Large fire leads to firefighter’s art exhibition

A firefighter who was one of the first on the scene of a major fire in Crediton has created an exhibition charting the history of the buildings involved.

The fire in Buller Square on 2 February 2012 severely damaged five historic thatched cottages and adjoining properties were also damaged by the fire. Ten fire crews were fighting the fire at its height and firefighters were at the scene for three days.

Now local firefighter and artist Simon Ripley will exhibit pictures and writing exploring the heritage of Buller Square at the town’s fire station next week as part of Crediton Festival.

Simon said: “It has been a privilege to be involved in this project - from first attendance at the fire and as part of the first breathing apparatus team into the building, right through to seeing the completion of this exhibition. 

“As firefighters we usually only see the trauma of an event and rarely get to witness the rebuilding of lives damaged by fire. I hope that the project will be a tribute to all those who struggled to bring the fire under control and a memorial for those who lost their homes in the fire.

“Whenever we go to fires it is important to recognise the many layers of heritage, both personal and of local and even national importance, that underpin the buildings we seek to save."

The Heritage Lottery-funded exhibition will be open to the public at the Crediton Fire Station community room from 28 June to 1 July, then 4-6 July, 11.30am to 5pm.

There will also be a fire station open day on Saturday 29 June, where the public will be welcome to look around the rest of the station and speak to firefighters, with a welcome and readings at 2pm.

As well as being a retained firefighter, Simon is a printmaker and Director of Exeter's Double Elephant Print Workshop. He was asked by the festival organisers to participate in the festival and given the huge interest in the fire and Simon’s connection to it, it seemed like an ideal way of combining his two roles as artist and firefighter. He was then successful in a bid to the Heritage Lottery to explore and preserve the history of the Square. 

Simon added: “The fire was a major event in the town and also led to a major effort to support the displaced families. At the time I was struck by the goodwill that was generated. Some of those who lost their homes were uninsured and they have raised their own funds to rebuild.”

The aim of the project is wider than the square itself and incorporates research into the Buller family, Saint Boniface, who is said to have been born on or near the square and the early settlements of Crediton which are located near the site of the square.

As part of the project, a group of 18 people undertook research at Crediton museum, libraries, Devon Heritage Centre and ‘Downes' (the Buller family home) museum.

The aim was to create a record of the fire and the heritage of the location and preserve that for future generations. Following the research project, there were a series of 10 art/printing workshops and 10 writing workshops.
The print workshops were led by Simon and artists from The Double Elephant Print Workshop and the writing was led by local writer Elspeth Penny.

Simon said: “There has been huge enthusiasm from the participants who have learnt a lot about the location and have also learnt new skills of art and writing.”

The exhibition is the culmination of the project but the group hopes to exhibit the work elsewhere in the town later in the year.