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The Skills Database - Jenny Yendall (Newsletter No 10 2005)

At last year’s NDAS Local History Day, I proposed the formation of a local history sklls database. This would be a list of people in the area of northern Devon who have knowledge or skills in the field of local historical and archaeological research and who would be willing to share their expertise for the benefit of others. In the autumn 2004 NDAS newsletter there was a volunteer form and a number of people responded, sending me their details.

Now things have moved on. I have got together with Sean Hawken at the University of Exeter, where he fosters community archaeology, to add into the CLP (Community Lanscapes Project) website links and contacts based on the information that was sent to me. The website address is www.projects.ex.ac.uk/devonclp/ As a result of our combined efforts, the CLP website now hosts information relating to Devon's archaeology societies, groups and archaeology projects. At present the list/database is short and rather simple. It is hoped however that over time, with more groups and project leaders providing information, this web-based database will become a superb one-stop link for archaeology enthusiasts to find out more about active archaeological groups in the region. The aim is to create a network for archaeology groups in Devon (and eventually Cornwall and Somerset) to get in contact with other groups so each group may support the other with skills, knowledge, labour and equipment. If you have access to the Internet, do try the website address above. You will find NDAS featured there as well as reports of the CLP project based in the Hartland area.

Additionally I can report that in my new job running South Molton Museum, I have been fortunate enough to secure a Heritage Lottery Fund award of £45,000, part of which is to be dedicated to installing computer equipment. Having this equipment will enable the museum to act as a filter station for information that will be sent to Sean at the university. I and my volunteer helpers are happy to meet visitors to the museum who wish to share their knowledge and skills and have their information recorded
and put onto the database. This is a marvellous opportunity for information to be gathered which will benefit so many organisations. South Molton Museum will reopen March 2006 and it is hoped that systems will be in place to take this project forward.