Talk on Devon’s medieval rood screens

Buckfastleigh History Society hosts a February talk at the Valiant Soldier Museum and Heritage Centre on Devon’s medieval painted rood screens, with speaker Richard Knights. Discover the stories behind more than 40 surviving screens on Thursday 19 February 2026, £5 entry.

Come and join the Buckfastleigh History Society for our February talk, Devon’s Painted Screens, at the Valiant Soldier Museum and Heritage Centre. Our speaker, Richard Knights, will explore the story of medieval rood screens across the county. These are the beautifully carved wooden partitions between nave and chancel, often richly painted with saints and other figures; Devon is especially fortunate, with over 40 figurative examples still surviving in parish churches.

The setting is the much-loved Valiant Soldier in Buckfastleigh, the former pub-turned-museum known as a local time‑capsule — a fitting backdrop for an evening of history. Do come along for an engaging and informative talk.

Date: Thursday 19 February 2026
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Valiant Soldier Museum and Heritage Centre, Buckfastleigh
Speaker: Richard Knights
Topic: Devon’s Painted Screens – the history of medieval rood screens in Devon
Entry: £5 (cash or card)

We’d love to see you there.

For contact details, please see the Buckfastleigh History Society entry on our Community Groups page.