The Peopling of North Devon
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
When: 17 October 2026 to 30 January 2027
Where: Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon Temporary Exhibition Gallery
Time: 10:00 - 16:30
Cost: Free
Suitable for: Any age
Set right at the edge of England, North Devon’s rich and varied history has been shaped by many peoples and cultures. Are we Celts, like the Cornish, or Saxons? And are there traces of later migrants in our population? The arrival of Vikings, Normans, Africans and Native Americans are all recorded in our history, but have they left genetic traces behind?
In modern times, North Devon has welcomed workers from Ireland, Wales, the Commonwealth and Eastern Europe. We have been a refuge, including in the 18th century for Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France, in the 19th and 20th centuries Jews from central Europe, and, most recently, a place of safety for Ukrainian families.
The exhibition ‘The Peopling of North Devon’ is inspired by research undertaken by the Francis Crick Institute, a London-based biomedical research centre, which has analysed some of the Saxon skeletons discovered on the site of the former Barnstaple Castle as part of its 1000 Ancient Genomes Project. It will showcase objects from the Museum’s collections, which evidence North Devon’s ancient and recent migrations and which tell the stories of some of our local families.
Exhibitions & Projects
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100 Years of Marilyn
Bill Douglas Centre
29 May 2026 to 20 November 2026
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Bampton Players 50 Years
Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre
10 September 2026 to 28 November 2026
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Beyond the Samurai: An Introduction to Japanese Cinema
23 July 2026 to 29 November 2026
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The Friends of The Burton Annual Open
The Burton at Bideford
07 November 2026 to 22 December 2026
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For A Time: Sanctuary Seekers in North Devon
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
24 October 2026 to 02 January 2027
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David Nash
The Burton at Bideford
14 November 2026 to 17 January 2027
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Exeter’s Fine Art gallery: Highlights from the Collection
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
21 October 2026 to 17 January 2027
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The Peopling of North Devon
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
17 October 2026 to 30 January 2027
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What do you collect The Deaf Academy: Deaf technology through the ages
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
21 July 2026 to 07 February 2027
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Living Labyrinths: Art and Fungi
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
03 October 2026 to 21 February 2027
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Insects Uncovered: Biodiversity in Newton Abbot Exhibition
Newton Abbot Museum
17 March 2026 to 01 March 2027
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A Sense of Colour
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
31 March 2026 to 21 March 2027
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Bayeux Around Britain
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
15 September 2026 to 11 July 2027
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What Do You Collect Tinplate Toys
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
09 February 2027 to 03 October 2027
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Charmaine Watkiss: From the ones who came before…
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery
10 February 2026 to 10 October 2027
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Sherlock Holmes at Dartmoor Prison Museum
09 June 2026 to 30 April 2028
