common people - book talk
A Craftmongers book talk
7.30pm - 12.02.26
Doors open at 7pm
Ashburton Arts Centre, 15 West St, TQ13 7DT
Drawing on the book Common People, Leah Gordon, Annabel Edwards and Lewis Winks discuss the history of enclosure, the loss of the commons, and their lasting impact on contemporary Britain. Followed by a Q&A and book signing.
Taking part in the discussion Leah Gordon, Annabel Edwards and Lewis Winks.
Ticket price - £10/£8/£5
Get tickets from
wegottickets.com/ashburtonarts (10% fee) or email boxoffice@ashburtonarts.org.uk
IN 1600, 50% OF ENGLAND WAS COMMON LAND.
IT’S NOW 3%.
THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW THAT HAPPENED.
This is a visual journey through the history of the enclosure of common land in England and the stories of those who have attempted to resist. Richly illustrated with Leah Gordon’s photography alongside fine art and folk customs past and present, discover:
· A timeline of this centuries-long struggle for access to the land.
· The stories of rural resistance such as the Levellers, the Diggers, the Luddites and Captain Swing.
· The links between the struggles of the industrial working-class and the peasants.
· Contemporary conflicts around land rights, such as the New Age travellers and rave scene, the anti-road campaign and the Right to Roam movement.
Common People offers a reimagining of English history told by the people themselves, giving voice to the silenced history of the enclosures and the incredible visual creativity inspired by rural resistance and protest.
Leah Gordon
Leah Gordon (born Ellesmere Port, UK) is an artist, curator, and writer. Her work explores the intersectional histories of the Caribbean plantation system, the Enclosure Acts, and the creation of the British working-class. Gordon’s work amplifies ‘histories from below’ and recognises the role of carnival, folk traditions, grassroots religion in both performing and sustaining radical histories.
Lewis Winks
Lewis is a freelance writer, researcher, educator and campaigner focused on cultural and social transformations, environmental advocacy, and rights of access to the countryside. His research spans environmental and sustainability education, teacher training, and cultures of learning. Lewis part of the core team of the 'Right to Roam' campaign, advocating for a greater and more equitable access to nature in England. He is co-founder of ‘Lestari Environmental Social Science Consultancy’, is a Leadership Fellow of the ESRC group 'Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environmental Social Sciences' (ACCESS), and is an associate member of the Geography Department at the University of Exeter where he completed his PhD and subsequent postdoctoral projects. Lewis is a director of ‘On The Hill’ land based learning CIC based in the Teign Valley near Exeter where he supports and advises their work on outdoor transformative education for young people and adults.
Annabel Edwards
Writer and researcher, Annabel Edwards, has worked in publishing, journalism, and on various art projects. She and Leah previously worked together, documenting the free festival scene in the 1990s, when Annabel was commissioned to write a book about New Age Travellers.
Leah, Lewis and Annabel will discuss how a knowledge of the history of the enclosures and subsequent loss of the commons has shaped the politics and environment of contemporary Britain.
