Celebrating the Patron Saint of Exeter
Many of us enjoy celebrating Patron Saint days such as St George’s or St Patrick’s But how many of us mark the day of Exeter’s patron saint?
Exonians are invited to mark St Sidwella’s day, The Patron Saint of Exeter on Tuesday Aug the 2nd from 1pm onwards at St Sidwell’s Community centre.
Learn more about the year-long Heritage Lottery funded project “Reviving lost history and building community” and take a seat on our newly installed, hand-built oak benches in the grounds.
You can also enjoy the ‘Feast of St Sidwella’ with food prepared in the St Sidwell's centre café with salad and vegetables grown in our own garden.
The St Sidwells centre has recently received Heritage lottery funding to revive the forgotten history of the site and the street over the next twelve months and has employed Marie Leverett and Kevin Winser as their job share Heritage project coordinators.
Centre manger Dave Wright says “It promises to be an interesting and fun project and one which we hope will enhance Sidwell Street and benefit local residents and visitors, connecting them to the history of the area, which many do not know about.”
Various events and talks are being planned over the year and will include the installation of a permanent display telling the story of St Sidwella and an historical timeline including many archive photos, prints and artefacts from the Sidwell Street area.
The grounds in the front of the centre have already benefited from the addition of four very decorative, oak benches, hand carved from reclaimed wood by volunteers at the centre. They have proved very popular and provide a quiet space for people to sit, rest and enjoy their lunch.
An oral history will also be recorded from local residents with memories from the 20th century and members of the rich, multi-cultural community that live and work here describing their everyday experiences of life now, for future generations.
If you have any photos, artefacts or stories relating to the ancient or more recent history of the Sidwell area of Exeter or would like to get involved or want to know more about the project contact;
Marie Leverett or Kevin Winser on 01392 666222
or E mail – Heritage@stsidwells.org.uk
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