Last call to see big Barnstaple pottery exhibition in North Devon

Barnstaple’s rich legacy as an international centre for ceramics is taking centre stage thanks to a massive funding boost.

And now the museum is actively seeking volunteers and donations to support the next phase of the project.

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, in partnership with its Development Trust, has secured nearly £52,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the Potted History project — a deep dive into decades-old excavations that promise to reshape understanding of the town’s historical significance.

An exhibition at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon ends tomorrow (Saturday, October 4) and admission is free. The lottery bid was prepared thanks to funding totalling £4,000 from Devon County Council over a number of years.

The initiative will focus on post-excavation analysis of at least fourteen digs conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, many of which have remained untouched in museum storage.

Among the standout finds are three 17th-century pottery kilns that once fired ceramics destined for trade with the Americas, Wales, Ireland and Canada.

These artefacts not only highlight Barnstaple’s early global connections but also underscore its role in shaping North Devon’s pottery heritage.

Alison Mills, director of the museum, said: “The amazing archaeological discoveries in Barnstaple have been waiting to be analysed and published for decades. We can now develop our plans to share Barnstaple’s potted history with local people and a worldwide audience.”

The first phase will see the appointment of a post-excavation archaeologist to lead a nine-month pilot alongside volunteers. Together, they’ll digitise and catalogue thousands of physical finds, documents, and photographs.

Training programmes in post-excavation techniques will be developed, with a special emphasis on pottery processing. A detailed report on the Barnstaple Library site excavations is also in the works, along with a comprehensive three-year plan for future analysis.

Stuart McLeod, director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, praised the project’s scope: “This project will uncover and share the region’s rich archaeological heritage and shine a light on Barnstaple’s fascinating past, offering new opportunities for learning, volunteering, and community engagement.”

The museum is actively seeking volunteers and donations to support the next phase of the project. An overview of “Potted History” is currently featured in the museum’s exhibition Digging Deeper, which celebrates the contributions of local archaeology volunteers.

Bill Horner, Devon county archaeologist and historic environment manager, said: “Barnstaple pottery, from the medieval into the post-medieval period, underpins the dating of a range of archaeological sites in Devon.

“For the post-medieval period, North Devon ceramics are a tangible indicator of the regional and international economic and cultural contacts of England and an emerging Britain.

“Ceramic collections and archives held in Barnstaple are therefore crucial to the recording and telling this story.

“Devon County Council has been supporting excavation and research on the North Devon pottery industry since the 1980s and projects such as Potted History will make much more information accessible to the public and directly involve the local community in the archaeological post-excavation process.”

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon invites anyone interested in finding out more about the project or joining the team of volunteers to get in touch.

Donations to support the project are welcome via the museum website and an overview of the Potted History project is included as part of the museum’s current exhibition, Digging Deeper: Celebrating the work of volunteers in North Devon’s archaeology.

The exhibition has been co-curated with the North Devon Archaeological Society (NDAS) supported by volunteers from the Exmoor Society, staff from Devon County Council, Exmoor National Park, and the North Devon Coast National Landscape.