'Ruins and Monuments' Exhibition - 1st Aug - 31st October

 Mines and Mining Landscapes of Devon and Cornwall

1st August – 31st October 2026
Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre

As part of Tavistock's programme of events marking the 20th anniversary of the town's inclusion within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre is proud to present 'Ruins and Monuments', an exhibition of mine photographs and paintings.

The exhibition forms part of a wider project that aims to visit former mining heartlands across the South West, celebrating their rich industrial heritage and distinctive landscapes.

Photographer Graham Warren has built up a diverse collection of mining images using a variety of cameras, including a traditional pinhole camera – a camera without a lens. Some of the equipment he uses is not far removed from the photographic technology available at the height of mining during the mid to late 19th century. The distinctive qualities of pinhole photography are particularly well suited to capturing the stark beauty and atmosphere of the mining remains. These evocative black and white images form the backbone of the exhibition.

Artist Duncan Rice uses drawings and sketches as the starting point for his paintings of mining landscapes. A landscape designer by profession, Duncan has a keen interest in the impact of mining on the landscape and how nature has gradually transformed these industrial remains into places of remarkable beauty and historical significance.

The exhibition will be on display in the Robing Room at Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre from 1st August to 31st October 2026. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome during the Guildhall's normal opening hours.

Discovery Team Activities - All at Sea

Ahoy, mateys! Adventure awaits!

Set sail for a morning of pirate-themed fun as we follow in the wake of Sir Francis Drake. Make your own treasure map, build a boat, create a pirate hat and discover the incredible story of Drake's famous circumnavigation of the globe.

X marks the spot for family fun!

• 10.00 am –1.00 pm | Guildhall Heritage Centre
• FREE entry (suggested donation of £1 per child for materials)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Activities take place at the rear of the Guildhall Courtroom. Please enter through the main courtroom door. Step-free access is also available for those who need it. 

Discovery Team Activities - Detective Work

Can you crack the case?

Step into our Victorian Courtroom and become a detective for the day! Take fingerprints, write secret messages with invisible ink, create your own wanted poster, solve puzzles and investigate a scene inspired by the history of crime and policing in Tavistock.

A mystery-filled morning for young detectives!

• 10.00 am –1.00 pm | Guildhall Heritage Centre
• FREE entry (suggested donation of £1 per child for materials)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Activities take place at the rear of the Guildhall Courtroom. Please enter through the main courtroom door. Step-free access is also available for those who need it.

Discovery Team Activities - Mining Inventions

Dig into Tavistock's mining past!

Celebrate the inventions and ingenuity that helped shape our mining heritage. Make a miner's hat, create an inventions collage, build a Lego mining machine and discover how innovation transformed life underground.

A hands-on session packed with creativity and engineering fun!

• 10.00 am –1.00 pm | Guildhall Heritage Centre
• FREE entry (suggested donation of £1 per child for materials)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Activities take place at the rear of the Guildhall Courtroom. Please enter through the main courtroom door. Step-free access is also available for those who need it. 

Discovery Team Activities - Abbey Life

Travel back to medieval Tavistock!

Discover what life was like at Tavistock Abbey through traditional crafts and nature-inspired activities. Try your hand at calligraphy, plant a seed, learn about the life cycle of a bee and have a go at weaving.

A relaxing and creative morning inspired by the people who once called the Abbey home.

• 10.00 am –1.00 pm | Guildhall Heritage Centre
• FREE entry (suggested donation of £1 per child for materials)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Activities take place at the rear of the Guildhall Courtroom. Please enter through the main courtroom door. Step-free access is also available for those who need it.  

Courtroom Talk - Napoleonic Art Work of Dartmoor Prison

Join Simon Dell for an illustrated talk entitled "Napoleonic Art Work of Dartmoor Prison".

Talk starts at 7pm, with doors opening at 6:45pm in the Courtroom. It is free to attend, although donations to the Guildhall Heritage Centre are always welcome.

Courtroom Talk - Tavistock Abbey

Join Simon Dell for an illustrated talk entitled "Tavistock Abbey".

Talk starts at 7pm, with doors opening at 6:45pm in the Courtroom. It is free to attend, although donations to the Guildhall Heritage Centre are always welcome.

Courtroom Talk - History of Forensic Science

Join Simon Dell for an illustrated talk entitled "History of Forensic Science".

Talk starts at 7pm, with doors opening at 6:45pm in the Courtroom. It is free to attend, although donations to the Guildhall Heritage Centre are always welcome. 

Courtroom Talk - Dartmoor Conchies

Join Simon Dell for an illustrated talk entitled "Dartmoor Conchies".

Courtroom Talk - Three Murders and a Suicide

Join Simon Dell for an illustrated talk entitled "Three Murders and a Suicide".

Talk starts at 7pm, with doors opening at 6:45pm in the Courtroom. It is free to attend, although donations to the Guildhall Heritage Centre are always welcome.