A Tudor Tragedy: The Western Rising of 1549 and the City of Exeter
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | St Nicholas Priory, Mint Lane, Off Fore Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3BL, United Kingdom
This year marks the 475th anniversary of the Western Rising.
In June 1549, the government introduced a new form of Protestant prayer book - but at the village of Sampford Courtenay, in mid-Devon, local people refused to accept it.

The initial protest at Sampford swiftly snowballed into a massive rebellion, which saw thousands of ordinary folk rising up in arms across the whole of Devon and Cornwall. The ‘Prayer Book Rebellion’, as the rising is known today, came within a hairsbreadth of achieving success and of overturning the English Reformation. During the course of the uprising a series of bloody battles were fought between the rebels and the royal army, which left some 4,000 local people dead.
In this talk, Professor Mark Stoyle will explain the background and importance of the rebellion and the part played by Exonians. The lecture follows on from the Tudor re-enactment which recently took place at St Nicholas Priory, and from Sarah Dickenson’s acclaimed stage-play, ‘The Commotion Time’, which had its world-premiere at the Northcott in October.
Tickets are £10. Wine available for a donation.

Doors open at 6:30pm.

Directions
St Nicholas Priory is on Mint Lane with walking access from Fore Street or Bartholomew Street West.

The nearest car park is Mary Arches Street, which is a five-minute walk. Exeter Central railway station is a ten-minute walk. The bus station is a 15-minute walk with many buses stopping on the High Street which is ten minutes away.

Access
Unfortunately, due to the nature of this historic building, there is no wheelchair access for our upstairs rooms.

Facilities
Our outdoor toilet block can be made available on request.

If you have any questions or concerns about your visit please email admin@nicholaspriory.com
