Blackawton in the 1990s

A selection of photographs taken by Dr Jacqueline Sarsby, a social anthropologist and photographer.

During the 1990s the pattern of farming in Devon was changing, and many of the traditional farm skills – such as hand-turning butter and making a mangold ‘cave’ – were disappearing. So, over a 12 year period, Dr Sarsby studied the rural community of Blackawton in the South Hams and took photographs of daily activities and village life in general, in order to to create a permanent record.

The resulting photos were featured in a touring exhibition entitled ‘Changing Rural Devon’ and some were also included in Dr Sarsby’s publication Sweetstone, Life on a Devon Farm, published in 2004.

Many of the striking monochrome images are now on display in the Research Library of the DRA in a new display curated by Blackawton and Strete History (BASH). It is open to view on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am & 3pm*.

We are extremely grateful to Dr Sarsby for allowing us to show the images, and also to Anne Harvey of BASH for preparing the display.

* PLEASE NOTE: This exhibition has now closed.
You will find more information about Dr Sarby’s work on her website.