Tapestry reflects Devon's slave trade - to get us talking about it
An exhibition highlighting Devon's links to the slave trade has opened
As part of the 'In Plain Sight' exhibition, a new piece has opened exploring Devon's connection to the slave trade.
Artist Joy Gregory has been researching the local sugar trade for her piece called 'The Sweetest Thing' which has just opened Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
The 'In Plain Sight' display 'directly connects Devon’s wealth with the suffering of enslaved people on the Caribbean Plantations', according to the museum.
The London-based artist spent two years on the project, saying: "I think the focus around the transatlantic slave trade and that economy has always focussed on Liverpool, Bristol and London.
"It was important look at Devon's role in that and also the fact that Cornwall and Devon were huge trading links in the 17th century and with Topsham being the second most busiest port after London at the time and wealth that was accumulated and shown - and is still there in the countryside in these beautiful houses that are often wedding venues.
"One of the ones that really took my eye was Stoodleigh Court and the person that owned that had thousands of enslaved people as his property and through the compensation got the equivalent of £33-34 million back - so an incredible sum of money."