DRA Lecture: An Age of Opulence and Optimism

Early Victorian Devon

An Age of Opulence and Optimism

An illustrated talk by Dr David Parker, Historian  

The early decades of Queen Victoria’s reign saw the country on the threshold of the modern world and besieged with radical new ideas and emerging technologies. Reverberating across Devon were the national controversies over the poor, mass education, and the franchise, and the equally contentious Acts of Parliament that sought solutions. In this richly illustrated talk Dr Parker will describe Devon’s great estates and their glittering receptions, liveried servants, and deferential tenants as well as the unrest across the county bred of poverty and hunger, social and political inequality. Horse power was being overtaken by steam power, and the steel rails gouging their way across Devon were transforming countless lives. At the same time steam boats, telegraph and newspapers were bringing back horrifying stories of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny in which so many Devon men served. 

Dr David Parker was a headteacher and then UK and European Masters Programme Director in the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Arts and Education. Since retiring in 2008 he has enjoyed researching and publishing many articles in specialist and popular journals on modern history, and also several books on local history. n 2013 David’s The People of Devon in the First World War was awarded Devon History Society’s W.G.Hoskins Prize. He has contributed to BBC TV and Radio Devon programmes on World War One themes, and given many talks to local societies.

Admission £5 per person

To book please contact Abi Gray on 01548 830832 or email office@dra.uk.net. To secure your booking advance payment is required either in cash, by cheque payable to 'The Fenwick Charitable Trust', or by card over the phone. Payments are non-refundable. Any unsold tickets will be available to purchase at the door on the evening.