Go west of the Exe

posted by Ramm

Living Here… West of the Exe celebrates sense of place. It is all about uncovering what is special in Exeter on the west side of the river. In days gone by St Thomas, Exwick, Cowick and Alphington were places in their own right, set apart from Exeter by the River Exe. Each ward has its own history and identity. Today they are neighbourhoods in a growing city. This Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) initiative includes partnerships, events, activities and a new interactive website.

The Living Here website is interactive. People are invited to share stories, memories, snapshots, research and observations of life in those neighbourhoods. It is both a virtual museum and a shop window to promote and celebrate activities taking place in the ‘real’ world, west of the Exe. It’s also a great way for RAMM to keep in touch with the community while the museum building is closed for major refurbishment.

Community contributions, sharing, discovery and queries are starting to build up since now. The site is still ‘under development’ (January 2008) but is live and available for a sneak preview. More functionality will be added and a few tweaks made before the official launch in early spring. Living Here is intentionally eclectic and maybe a little quirky. Visitors to the site are unlikely to agree with everything they find, but a range of views makes for an animated and interesting experience.

Sarah Scaife, the RAMM curator of West Exe writes: “The site is about local history and much more. You’ll find pieces on wildlife, the landscape, art, and activities. It’s a place for communities to share, discover and debate. Have a look and see what you think. Enjoy browsing the site and watch it grow over the coming months. We’d be glad to hear your comments.” Check out the Living Here site, for loads of fun-type stuff.

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