Titled “A Cornish Challenge to Centralised Power! The Tudors remind us that this is not a new political issue…”, the exhibition examines a pivotal moment that posed a significant challenge to the Tudor state and its Protestant Reformation.
The project was developed as part of the A Level component Religious Conflict and the Church in England c1529-c1570 and was delivered in partnership with Newquay Museum and Ertach Cornwall in St Austell. Students researched the Western Rebellion using a range of historical evidence before curating their findings for public display.
Mr Len Sheppard, Coordinator of Newquay Museum, praised the students’ efforts:
“The students worked with much enthusiasm to research the Western Rebellion through historical evidence and we are delighted to be able to exhibit their excellent work this summer!”
The collaboration provided students with valuable insight into museum and heritage work, allowing them to experience the process of curatorship while deepening their historical understanding.
Marilla Walker, Deputy Head of the Humanities Faculty at Truro College, said:
“It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to work so closely with one of our museum stakeholders as part of their A Level studies and learn about the process of curatorship. Additional subject enrichments like these are made possible due to the College’s Industry Immersion Day, which enables staff to join employers to create meaningful partnerships for our students.”
To further support the project, students attended a guest lecture from Mark Stoyle, Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Southampton, whose expertise helped bring this important period of Cornish history to life.
After viewing the exhibition, Professor Mark Stoyle commented:
“It was a splendid exhibition. It is so good to see that the young Cornishmen and women of today are taking such a keen interest in their own remarkable past, and that their enthusiasm has been particularly sparked by the Western Rebellion: an episode which saw the ordinary people of Tudor Devon and Cornwall rising up in defence of their own religion and culture.”
The exhibition is currently on display in Newquay Museum’s Corridor Gallery and can be viewed Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.
Interested in exploring the past and developing your research skills? Discover our Humanities courses today: Humanities & Social Sciences – Truro & Penwith College
