Devon Rural Archive hosts Seale-Hayne Agricultural College in the 1920s exhibition

As part of the county-wide Devon in the 1920s Festival, the Devon Rural Archive at Shilstone is hosting an exhibition that tells the story of the Seale-Hayne Agricultural College in the 1920s. The exhibition includes stories of students and staff at the College, which opened in 1920, and how the College expanded its courses and became a focus for agricultural research.

The exhibition features posterboards, photographs, letters, a tapestry of the College’s Coat of Arms, as well as information about Rt Hon Charles Seale-Hayne, who founded the College. Images showcase students learning, tractor trials and women students, whose inclusion caused ‘shock and horror’ as mixing of sexes was not considered to be advantageous financially or otherwise! There is information about the effects of the agricultural depression and how students struggled at times with not enough desks and chairs go around. The exhibition also recounts how highly the College was ranked among the educational institutions in the country at the time.

Open: 4th June to 29th June 2025, Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am-4pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. FREE ADMISSION.

Venue: Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone House, Modbury, Devon PL21 0TW

Visit the Festival website for more information and events taking place across Devon: https://devontwentiesfestival.co.uk