Winning the Clay - Illustrated Talk by Dr Rebecca Nunes and Sophy Rickett
Friday 11th September 2026 from 19:00 until 20:00
For centuries, ball clay from the Bovey Basin has travelled from the landscapes of South Devon to the potteries of Stoke-on-Trent, helping to shape one of Britain's most important industries. Yet many of the stories connected with this remarkable material remain little known.
Join Dr Rebecca Nunes and Sophy Rickett for an illustrated talk introducing Winning the Clay, an AHRC-funded research project exploring the cultural heritage of the UK's historic ball clay industry.
Working across South Devon and North Staffordshire, the project brings together geology, archaeology, industrial heritage, photography, archival research and local knowledge to explore the histories and cultural legacies of the ball clay industry.
Rebecca and Sophy will share some of the project's early discoveries and explore the unexpected connections emerging between geology, industry, landscape and memory. They will also discuss how local knowledge, experience and community participation will help shape the next stage of the research.
Alongside the wider project, both speakers will present work in progress from their own creative responses. Sophy Rickett will share material from Riverings, a new book combining photography and memoir to explore the landscapes of the River Teign and Bovey Basin through geology, family history and material culture. Rebecca Nunes will present work in progress from a new film exploring the histories, landscapes and communities connected to the ball clay industry.
There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.
The talk will be of interest to anyone with connections to the clay industry, an interest in local history and heritage, or simply a curiosity about the landscapes and stories of South Devon.
About the speakers
Dr Rebecca Nunes is Associate Professor in Heritage at the University of Staffordshire. Her research explores industrial heritage, archaeology, museums and community engagement, with a particular interest in how people connect with the material histories of place. She is Principal Investigator of Winning the Clay.
Sophy Rickett is Reader in Photography, Heritage, and Place at the University of the Arts London. Working across photography, writing and collaborative research, her practice explores landscape, memory and cultural heritage. She is Co-Investigator on Winning the Clay and leads the project's work with communities in South Devon.
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