Apps for mobile devices powered by Placeify and TiCL
Published 22 July 2018
“Q is for Quarries” is an A-Z trail that allows people to discover the red skeleton of Exeter. Heavitree Stone, sourced from the quarries in St Loyes, was particularly important during the mediaeval period, and it was used in many of Exeter’s most distinctive buildings.
Since June 2017 I have been working with the Heavitree Squilometre Quarry Pod on ways of engaging with and celebrating the quarries and the stone. When Steven Bramble suggested designing an alphabet of Heavitree Stone, I immediately thought of its potential use in an A-Z. I came across Placeify some years ago, powering Exeter University’s Sculpture Tour, and the two things came together in the idea for a trail.
I assigned a Heavitree Stone site to each letter of the alphabet. Each site needed to tell its own story about the use of the material. So the sites I chose present a good spread across the city and the centuries. They are not just the ‘pretty’ buildings, but a mix of types of structures – churches, houses, infrastructure, etc. And there are examples that illustrate different stone qualities and finishing, how it has been re-used, and how it weathers.
Later I came across TiCL, who were really enthusiastic about adding “Q is for Quarries” to their portfolio of Exeter trails. The two tools complement each other. Placeify isn’t actually an app, but a website designed for mobile devices. It presents an ordered trail, and allows for text and audio about each site. TiCL is an app using geolocation to find and direct the user to the nearest trail location. Each site on TiCL links to a website with more information.
If you want, you can follow the whole alphabet. There’s a challenge for a day out in Exeter! Or you can create your own trail, like spelling out your own name. For example…
SOPHIE takes you to shops and houses, boundary walls, churches, and two historic bridges
RYAN takes you to a castle, defensive walls, chapel, and priory
Acknowledgements
- Exeter City Council
- Interwoven Productions CIC and the Heavitree Squilometre
- 1010 Media and Andy Chapman
- TiCL Media and Simon Edwards
- Chris Spinks
