The Iconic Exeter wall mural is to be covered up after 35 years.
The Westgate mural, which has stood at the bottom of New Bridge Street, overlooking Exe Bridges for 35 years this month, is being painted over.
The mural, which was suggested for listing by the Twentieth Century Society, was painted by local artist Andrew Stacey who also completed the mural on the Backpackers’ building in Holloway Street.
The New Bridge Street mural which is 60 foot high and 40 ft wide is to disappear.
it is thought the owner of the building is trying to sort out some ongoing rendering problems. It was hoped to save the mural but this proved not possible.
The mural was painted by Andrew Stacey, a former Exeter College art teacher, to celebrate the Westgate Festival in 1979, and features local characters of the time and acrobats and jugglers performing in the streets of the city.
With some funding the mural could be repaired after the work to the building is done.
Please sign and share and save this part of cultural heritage in Exeter!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 9, 2014
October 8, 2014
I have been reviewing the many personal reflections shared by residents regarding their memories of the Westgate mural. These accounts confirm that this landmark represents a vital piece of our collective history that warrants preservation despite the current plans for the building. My primary focus remains on determining if there is a viable path to restoring the artwork once the necessary repairs are completed.
October 8, 2014
The traction this petition has gained demonstrates how much the Westgate mural means to our city. This momentum confirms that our cultural heritage requires preservation rather than erasure.
Reached 100 supporters
October 8, 2014
October 7, 2014
Our petition is approaching five hundred signatures. Reaching this milestone will provide significant weight when we present our case for the preservation of the Exeter mural. Please continue to direct others to this page so that we maintain the momentum required for this important cultural effort.
9 Comments
I used to walk past this every single day on my way to uni years ago. It brings so much life to that corner of the city. Such a shame to lose it!
We started the petition as soon as we heard this was happening as we needed to get cracking on rallying support. We'll be formulating a plan over the weekend and putting it into action on Monday. At this point we need to gather as many signatures as possible so that when we approach the owner, council, newspapers, etc. on Monday our argument will have weight. We are also considering crowd funding the repairs needed to save this piece of local heritage, but we'll see what the options are as they transpire next week. I hope we'll have lots of signatures showing lots of support for saving the mural before Monday comes. Your help in achieving this (by sharing the petition and spreading the word) would be massively appreciated.
Although I love the mural and would be sad to see it go. I'm not clear what the petition is suggesting. Who are you petitioning? Who is the petition aimed at?
Think you must have the wrong building in mind. It was Joan's hairdressers for years then about 4 years ago if was converted into flats when Joan retired. It's been painted a smart greenish colour ever since then and in the 7 years I've been back in Exeter, I don't think I've ever seen it boarded up or covered in posters. Walked past it today, scaffolding over the mural but the rest of the building as clean and tidy as normal.
Exactly. Many people have a connection to this one way or another. Its part of the fabric of Exeter. Why dont developers "get that"?
Please save it, it's part of Exeter.
My dads on this. It means a lot of things for a lot of people
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The Iconic Exeter wall mural is to be covered up after 35 years.
The Westgate mural, which has stood at the bottom of New Bridge Street, overlooking Exe Bridges for 35 years this month, is being painted over.
The mural, which was suggested for listing by the Twentieth Century Society, was painted by local artist Andrew Stacey who also completed the mural on the Backpackers’ building in Holloway Street.
The New Bridge Street mural which is 60 foot high and 40 ft wide is to disappear.
it is thought the owner of the building is trying to sort out some ongoing rendering problems. It was hoped to save the mural but this proved not possible.
The mural was painted by Andrew Stacey, a former Exeter College art teacher, to celebrate the Westgate Festival in 1979, and features local characters of the time and acrobats and jugglers performing in the streets of the city.
With some funding the mural could be repaired after the work to the building is done.
Please sign and share and save this part of cultural heritage in Exeter!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 9, 2014
October 8, 2014
I have been reviewing the many personal reflections shared by residents regarding their memories of the Westgate mural. These accounts confirm that this landmark represents a vital piece of our collective history that warrants preservation despite the current plans for the building. My primary focus remains on determining if there is a viable path to restoring the artwork once the necessary repairs are completed.
October 8, 2014
The traction this petition has gained demonstrates how much the Westgate mural means to our city. This momentum confirms that our cultural heritage requires preservation rather than erasure.
Reached 100 supporters
October 8, 2014
October 7, 2014
Our petition is approaching five hundred signatures. Reaching this milestone will provide significant weight when we present our case for the preservation of the Exeter mural. Please continue to direct others to this page so that we maintain the momentum required for this important cultural effort.
9 Comments
This is a crucial mural - a striking welcome as one begins to ascend Fore Street, and a striking and excellent pieces of urban art. It should certainly be preserved and saved if remotely possible
I used to walk past this every single day on my way to uni years ago. It brings so much life to that corner of the city. Such a shame to lose it!
We started the petition as soon as we heard this was happening as we needed to get cracking on rallying support. We'll be formulating a plan over the weekend and putting it into action on Monday. At this point we need to gather as many signatures as possible so that when we approach the owner, council, newspapers, etc. on Monday our argument will have weight. We are also considering crowd funding the repairs needed to save this piece of local heritage, but we'll see what the options are as they transpire next week. I hope we'll have lots of signatures showing lots of support for saving the mural before Monday comes. Your help in achieving this (by sharing the petition and spreading the word) would be massively appreciated.
Although I love the mural and would be sad to see it go. I'm not clear what the petition is suggesting. Who are you petitioning? Who is the petition aimed at?
Think you must have the wrong building in mind. It was Joan's hairdressers for years then about 4 years ago if was converted into flats when Joan retired. It's been painted a smart greenish colour ever since then and in the 7 years I've been back in Exeter, I don't think I've ever seen it boarded up or covered in posters. Walked past it today, scaffolding over the mural but the rest of the building as clean and tidy as normal.
Exactly. Many people have a connection to this one way or another. Its part of the fabric of Exeter. Why dont developers "get that"?
Please save it, it's part of Exeter.
My dads on this. It means a lot of things for a lot of people
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This is a crucial mural - a striking welcome as one begins to ascend Fore Street, and a striking and excellent pieces of urban art. It should certainly be preserved and saved if remotely possible