TAVISTOCK: THE ONCE AND FUTURE ABBEY By Simon Thompson and Will Hay

Talk  |  Seated

SIMON THOMPSON: Simon Thompson was a professional archaeologist working for 20 years at the Museum of London, before moving with his family to Tavistock. Here, as a volunteer with Tavistock Forward, he helped bring about the digitisation of the 1752 Wynne map – now freely available online at the National Library of Scotland. He is currently involved with the TASS Lifestories project as well as Tavistock Heritage Trust’s ‘Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey’ project
WILL HAY:Dr Will Hay, PhD is a former Lecturer at the University of Plymouth, where he taught Social Work students and specialised in Criminal Justice. He is a member of the LifeStories Project steering group, and has a particular interest in oral history and preserving the memories of Tavistock's residents
TALK: What was life in a monastery really like — and what might still lie hidden
beneath Tavistock today?
In this lively two-speaker talk, local historians Simon Thompson and Will Hay, currently working on their forthcoming book Monky Business, explore the surprising realities of monastic life. Far from being only about prayer and chanting, monasteries were busy, complex communities at the heart of medieval society.
The second half of the talk turns to Tavistock Abbey, once one of the most important religious houses in the West Country. We will look at what we know, what we have lost, and what may yet be rediscovered — including the aims and plans for new archaeological investigations that could reveal the Abbey’s hidden story.
Come and discover the past beneath your feet — and the future of Tavistock’s Abbey.