EDGT IN THE MEDIA
12 November 2018
WESTERN UNION GIVES DONATION TO EDGT
The Exeter Daily published a press release which highlighted a donation from the Western Union of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (WUUFCC) to the EDGT to assist with maintenance work at the burial ground. Many of the people buried in the graveyard worshipped at Unitarian Meeting Houses in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. See the report here.
We are extremely grateful to the WUUFCC for the donation and The Exeter Daily for publicising our work.
The photograph shows (L-R): Steve Wills (EDGT), Edgar Mihas and Bob Goddard (WUU), Ian Varndell (EDGT), Martin Fieldhouse (WUU) and Paul Chant (EDGT).
WESTERN UNION GIVES DONATION TO EDGT
The Exeter Daily published a press release which highlighted a donation from the Western Union of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (WUUFCC) to the EDGT to assist with maintenance work at the burial ground. Many of the people buried in the graveyard worshipped at Unitarian Meeting Houses in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. See the report here.
We are extremely grateful to the WUUFCC for the donation and The Exeter Daily for publicising our work.
The photograph shows (L-R): Steve Wills (EDGT), Edgar Mihas and Bob Goddard (WUU), Ian Varndell (EDGT), Martin Fieldhouse (WUU) and Paul Chant (EDGT).
11 June 2018
CONSERVATION WORK HIGHLIGHTED BY BBC SPOTLIGHT
BBC Senior Broadcast Journalist John Ayres and a cameraman visited the graveyard during the Open Day on Sunday 10th June. They were on site for almost an hour and during that time interviewed EDGT Treasurer Ian Varndell and member of the Research Group Rachel Knowles. Rachel is a descendant of the Merivale family, several of whom - including the Reverend Samuel Merivale - are buried in the graveyard. The piece was aired on BBC Spotlight News on Monday 11th June and can be viewed here.
We are extremely grateful to the BBC for their support for the conservation work at the graveyard.
CONSERVATION WORK HIGHLIGHTED BY BBC SPOTLIGHT
BBC Senior Broadcast Journalist John Ayres and a cameraman visited the graveyard during the Open Day on Sunday 10th June. They were on site for almost an hour and during that time interviewed EDGT Treasurer Ian Varndell and member of the Research Group Rachel Knowles. Rachel is a descendant of the Merivale family, several of whom - including the Reverend Samuel Merivale - are buried in the graveyard. The piece was aired on BBC Spotlight News on Monday 11th June and can be viewed here.
We are extremely grateful to the BBC for their support for the conservation work at the graveyard.
Spring 2017
ST LEONARDS NEIGHBOURHOOD MAGAZINE
Short articles about the GIFFORD and NATION families have been published in the SLNA Newsletter, written by EDGT Trustees Yvonne Hensman and Ian Varndell, respectively. Clicking on the names above will open the articles. Future issues of the SLNA Newsletter will include pieces about other families buried or commemorated at the graveyard.
ST LEONARDS NEIGHBOURHOOD MAGAZINE
Short articles about the GIFFORD and NATION families have been published in the SLNA Newsletter, written by EDGT Trustees Yvonne Hensman and Ian Varndell, respectively. Clicking on the names above will open the articles. Future issues of the SLNA Newsletter will include pieces about other families buried or commemorated at the graveyard.
1 April 2015
EXETER LIFE
A two-page article by Laura Dale on the graveyard and the work of the research and recording group.
The digital edition is available here.
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EXETER LIFE
A two-page article by Laura Dale on the graveyard and the work of the research and recording group.
The digital edition is available here.
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16 June 2014
Issued by Gordon Read, Volunteers Co-ordinator
OPEN DAY, SATURDAY JUNE 28th
The site will be opened to reveal the result of removing 6 skip-loads of assorted rubbish and of around 1,000 person-hours of careful work. Rubbish and vegetation has been cleared, monuments have been gently cleaned and recorded. Inscriptions have been deciphered and many hours of documentary research enable us to display on the graves some of the stories of the people being commemorated. Though there's still a lot of work to do we can already take a genuine pride in showing the site off to the public. It will be open on Saturday 28th June from 11am to 4pm. There will be a chance to see the monuments, ask questions, discuss our work and renovation plans, and take light refreshment.
ENDS
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Issued by Gordon Read, Volunteers Co-ordinator
OPEN DAY, SATURDAY JUNE 28th
The site will be opened to reveal the result of removing 6 skip-loads of assorted rubbish and of around 1,000 person-hours of careful work. Rubbish and vegetation has been cleared, monuments have been gently cleaned and recorded. Inscriptions have been deciphered and many hours of documentary research enable us to display on the graves some of the stories of the people being commemorated. Though there's still a lot of work to do we can already take a genuine pride in showing the site off to the public. It will be open on Saturday 28th June from 11am to 4pm. There will be a chance to see the monuments, ask questions, discuss our work and renovation plans, and take light refreshment.
ENDS
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13 January 2014
Issued by the Steering Group:
The Steering Group is delighted to announce that the Dissenters Graveyard, Magdalen Street, Exeter has now been bought from Mr Nick Sprague. We are pleased to acknowledge the generosity both of Mr Sprague in selling the site at considerably below open market value and of the anonymous donor who funded the purchase.
The Graveyard has been bought on behalf of the Steering Group by Exeter Historic Buildings Trust and will be passed to a charitable incorporated organisation which is being specially set up – to be known as the Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust.
The next steps will be an archaeological investigation in which fly-tipped material will be removed, graves and displaced tombstones will be identified to be re-united where possible, monuments will be checked and the original pathways found. A landscape plan will be developed, enabling the site to be restored as an asset to St Leonards and the City during the second phase of works. Volunteers will carry out a lot of the investigation work under professional supervision and will conduct documentary research to contribute to an archive of the history and physical state of the site.
The Council for British Archaeology is making a grant of £1,000 for the investigation work and an application has been made for lottery funding. Donations are also coming from private individuals and from St Leonards Neighbourhood Association, Devon Gardens Trust and Exeter Historic Buildings Trust.
This is a community project and we would welcome volunteers to help – people with no relevant skills will be as welcome as those with previous experience.
The Steering Group can be contacted at enquiries@edgt.org.uk.
Paul Chant
on behalf of the Steering Group
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BROADCAST MEDIA COVERAGE: 18 April 2014 - ITV Southwest - http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2014-04-18/historic-graveyard-opens-to-the-public/; 26 January 2014 - BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme; 17 January 2014 - BBC Spotlight Southwest; 15 January 2014 - BBC Radio Devon Breakfast programme.
PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE: 14 January 2014 - Exeter Express and Echo.
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Notes to editors
The Dissenters Graveyard is a significant physical remnant of the nonconformist tradition in Exeter. The
Dissenter community was an important part of the city's commercial, religious and political life, particularly during the eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth centuries. The Graveyard was used for burials between 1748 and 1854.
Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust (EDGT) was set up in 2013 specifically to rescue it from commercial development. The Trust has about 60 volunteers. It has a website: www.edgt.org.uk
The Trust has received funding from: the Heritage Lottery Fund, two grants totalling £67,900; the Council for British Archaeology who awarded a £1,000 grant through Mick Aston Archaeology Funding; St Leonards Neighbourhood Association, Devon Gardens Trust, Exeter Historic Buildings Trust, The Leche Trust, Exeter Civic Society and Exeter City Council; and from numerous private individuals who have made donations including the donation which enabled the site to be purchased.
For further information, images and interviews, please contact
Gordon Read at Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust on gordon.read@eclipse.co.uk and enquiries@edgt.org.uk; see Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/exeterdgt and Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExeterDGT
Issued by the Steering Group:
The Steering Group is delighted to announce that the Dissenters Graveyard, Magdalen Street, Exeter has now been bought from Mr Nick Sprague. We are pleased to acknowledge the generosity both of Mr Sprague in selling the site at considerably below open market value and of the anonymous donor who funded the purchase.
The Graveyard has been bought on behalf of the Steering Group by Exeter Historic Buildings Trust and will be passed to a charitable incorporated organisation which is being specially set up – to be known as the Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust.
The next steps will be an archaeological investigation in which fly-tipped material will be removed, graves and displaced tombstones will be identified to be re-united where possible, monuments will be checked and the original pathways found. A landscape plan will be developed, enabling the site to be restored as an asset to St Leonards and the City during the second phase of works. Volunteers will carry out a lot of the investigation work under professional supervision and will conduct documentary research to contribute to an archive of the history and physical state of the site.
The Council for British Archaeology is making a grant of £1,000 for the investigation work and an application has been made for lottery funding. Donations are also coming from private individuals and from St Leonards Neighbourhood Association, Devon Gardens Trust and Exeter Historic Buildings Trust.
This is a community project and we would welcome volunteers to help – people with no relevant skills will be as welcome as those with previous experience.
The Steering Group can be contacted at enquiries@edgt.org.uk.
Paul Chant
on behalf of the Steering Group
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BROADCAST MEDIA COVERAGE: 18 April 2014 - ITV Southwest - http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2014-04-18/historic-graveyard-opens-to-the-public/; 26 January 2014 - BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme; 17 January 2014 - BBC Spotlight Southwest; 15 January 2014 - BBC Radio Devon Breakfast programme.
PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE: 14 January 2014 - Exeter Express and Echo.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to editors
The Dissenters Graveyard is a significant physical remnant of the nonconformist tradition in Exeter. The
Dissenter community was an important part of the city's commercial, religious and political life, particularly during the eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth centuries. The Graveyard was used for burials between 1748 and 1854.
Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust (EDGT) was set up in 2013 specifically to rescue it from commercial development. The Trust has about 60 volunteers. It has a website: www.edgt.org.uk
The Trust has received funding from: the Heritage Lottery Fund, two grants totalling £67,900; the Council for British Archaeology who awarded a £1,000 grant through Mick Aston Archaeology Funding; St Leonards Neighbourhood Association, Devon Gardens Trust, Exeter Historic Buildings Trust, The Leche Trust, Exeter Civic Society and Exeter City Council; and from numerous private individuals who have made donations including the donation which enabled the site to be purchased.
For further information, images and interviews, please contact
Gordon Read at Exeter Dissenters Graveyard Trust on gordon.read@eclipse.co.uk and enquiries@edgt.org.uk; see Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/exeterdgt and Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExeterDGT