Wikipedia:GLAM/MonmouthpediA

Welcome to the World's First Wikipedia Town
 Croeso, Bienvenido, Benvido, Benvenuto, Benvinguts, Bienvenue, Bonvenon, Willkommen, خوش آمدید, स्वागत, Fàilte, Ongi etorri, Tervetuloa, Tere tulemast, Üdvözlet, Välkomna, Velkommen, Vítáme vás, Witamy, Καλώς Ορίσατε, Добро пожаловать, Salvē, fi'i, kou, ようこそ, 歡迎, 欢迎, 歓迎, 환영합니다, ยินดีต้อนรับ, Dobrodošli, أهلاً وسهلاً ,ברוך בואך, Вітаємо, Welkom, सुस्वागतम, Добре дојдовте, ਜੀ ਆਇਆਂ ਨੂੰ 



Monmouthpedia is the first Wikipedia project to embrace a whole town—specifically, the Welsh town of Monmouth (Trefynwy). The project aims to cover every single notable place, person, artefact, plant, animal and other things in Monmouth in as many languages as possible, but with a special focus on Welsh. This is a different scale of wiki-project. The project is jointly funded by Monmouthshire County Council and Wikimedia UK, Monmouthshire County Council intend to install free town wide Wi-Fi for the project.

Bringing a whole town to life on Wikipedia is something new and is a testament to the forward-thinking people of Monmouth, all of the volunteers and the Wikimedia UK team. I’m looking forward to seeing other towns and cities doing the same thing. - Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia.

Monmouthpedia uses QRpedia codes, a type of bar code a smartphone can read through its camera (using one of the many free QR readers available) that takes you to a Wikipedia article in your language. QR codes are extremely useful, as physical signs have no way of displaying the same amount of information and in a potentially huge number of languages.

Articles have coordinates (geotags) to allow a virtual tour of the town using Wikipedia's mobile apps (or the Wikipedia layer on Google Streetview) and are available in augmented reality software including Layar. Monmouthpedia may not use standard black and white QR codes, in order to differentiate between MonmouthpediA codes and other schemes and individual's codes. There are different kinds of QR code—plaques and labels—all put up with the permission of the council and building owner:
 * Larger ceramic or metal plaques for places exposed to the elements for articles specific to Monmouth.
 * Smaller plastic, ceramic or metal plaques for labelling objects non specific to Monmouth, e.g. for use in the Flora and Fauna guide.
 * Labels for use inside buildings, e.g. for objects in museums.
 * Glass stickers in the windows of shops to give information on their professions
 * In addition there will be information posters, signs, notice boards and leaflets to help people contribute and stay informed.

The amount, detail and quality of the information that the community could create is staggering. The Council for British Archaeology has designated Monmouth as the seventh best town for archaeology in Britain. Knowledge gives us context, it allows us to appreciate our surroundings more: Monmouth may well be the first place in the world to offer its tourist information in over 250 languages.

We have over 1,000 QRpedia codes in Monmouth, including the museums. If you think you can help, contact info@wikimedia.org.uk


 * MonmouthpediA Facebook group
 * MonmouthpediA in Welsh

Participate
We are very keen for local people to be involved however they wish. Computer skills are not important, it’s the interest and the willingness to be involved, there is a wealth of opportunities for community involvement:


 * Suggest and write content


 * Donate photographs, both new and old


 * Recommend good reference materials


 * Translate articles into other languages


 * Learn and teach skills

Please click here to learn more

Achievements and News in Brief
We have had a lot of media coverage the project has been reported on in over, including this very odd video.

Achievements

 * over 550 new articles (in 29 languages)
 * 145 improved existing articles
 * over 1000 new images
 * ≈400,000 more page views per year of articles relating to Monmouth
 * 58 Articles on the English Wikipedia main page in Did You Know? (We also appeared on other DYKs)
 * 1) the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, and the adjoining Monnow Bridge, were both damaged by fire in the Battle of Monmouth in 1233? 27th December
 * 2) Captain Walker of HMS Monmouth (1796) told his crew to wash "the stain off your characters in the blood of your foes"? 14th January
 * 3) the oldest working theatre in Wales is said to be the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth? 18th January
 * 4) a gravestone in St Mary's Priory Church in Monmouth says "Here lies John Renie" in 46,000 different ways? 20th January
 * 5) the Monmouthshire Show was started after John Rolls and the Duke of Beaufort contributed £30 in 1857 to fund it? 20th January
 * 6) a parishioner at the Methodist Church in Monmouth said she would buy an organ if the minister ever filled the church? 22nd January
 * 7) Monmouth had one of the highest proportions of Catholics in Wales 20 years before St Mary's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1793? 23rd January
 * 8) Monmouth Museum opened in the Market Hall (pictured) six years after a fire partly destroyed the building? 26th January
 * 9) three Chartists held at Monmouth County Gaol (pictured) were sentenced at the Shire Hall to be hanged, drawn and quartered in 1840? 28th January
 * 10) when the 150-year-old Monmouthshire Beacon newspaper moved into Cornwall House (pictured), the new office was opened by Princess Margaret? 30th January
 * 11) William Jones bequeathed money to the Company of Haberdashers to found Monmouth School and provide almhouses for people "as blind and lame as it shall seem best to them"? 30th January
 * 12) the actress Helen Barry, who starred in London and New York, married an ex-Mayor of Monmouth? 6th February
 * 13) according to Shakespeare, Henry V, who was born in Monmouth, approved of Welshmen wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps? St David's Day, 1st March
 * 14) although St Peter's Church in Monmouthshire is a Welsh church, in 1920 its congregation decided to join the Church of England? St David's Day, 1st March
 * 15) Charles Rolls and early members of the Royal Aero Club used to go ballooning  in Monmouth? St David's Day, 1st March
 * 16) a former chapel at Monmouth Cemetery is now used as a genealogy centre? St David's Day, 1st March
 * 17) despite being in Herefordshire, Wyastone Leys hosted meetings of the Monmouthshire Hunt.
 * 18) dormice benefit from charcoal burning at Croes Robert Wood, near Monmouth?
 * 19) a fire destroyed the house at Hilston Park, Monmouthshire in 1838 and a Palladian mansion was built to replace it?
 * 20) Monmouth Town Council (town hall pictured) was created because of a monopoly on trade?
 * 21) the Cwm in Llanrothal, a college on the Monmouthshire–Herefordshire border, was a "stronghold" of Roman Catholics like Henry Milbourne in the 17th century?
 * 22) during the Popish Plot, on Sunday 17 November 1678, John Arnold of Monmouthshire captured Father David Lewis at St Michael's Church, Llantarnam, and he was later executed? 4th April
 * 23) there were so many pubs in Monmouth's market place  that they said "A gin court here, a gin court there, No wonder they call it Agincourt Square" (sign pictured)? 4th April
 * 24) George V gave the cradle (pictured) that was said to be that of Henry of Monmouth (later Henry V who was at Agincourt) to the London Museum?
 * 25) Lady Llangattock, the mother of Charles Rolls, commemorated the centenary of Nelson's death at The Kymin?
 * 26) King Arthur's Cave is in The Doward (pictured)?
 * 27) Baderon of Monmouth took Hadnock back from Monmouth Priory and gave three forges in exchange?
 * 28) war memorials in Monmouth include one that commemorates 16 admirals and Britain's victories in the French Revolutionary Wars?
 * 29) Osbaston hydropower station (pictured) can produce 670 MWh of electricity each year and allows salmon to travel upstream?
 * 30) ... that new Monmouth Alms Houses are to be provided by the charity established nearly four hundred years ago to build the original dwellings?  19th May
 * 31) ... that a year after excavation of Neolithic and Roman artefacts at 33 Whitecross Street, archaeologists discovered evidence of Middle Stone Age human settlement in Monmouth?
 * 32) ... that Whitecross Street is included on the 1610 map of Monmouth (pictured) drawn by cartographer John Speed?
 * 33) ... that the Masonic Hall in Monmouth, Wales, located on Monk Street, houses the oldest surviving masonic lodge in Monmouthshire?
 * 34) ... that although women could not be members of an antiquarian society in Bristol, Mary Ellen Bagnall-Oakeley presented numerous papers to historians, including one about the tower on Monnow Bridge (pictured)?
 * 35) ... that new Monmouth Alms Houses are to be provided by the charity established nearly four hundred years ago to build the original dwellings?
 * 36) ... that the discovery of Mesolithic microliths during gas main excavation in 2010 revealed that Monmouth was inhabited during the Middle Stone Age?
 * 37) ... that Monmouthpedia has led to Monmouth being described as the "world's first Wikipedia town"?
 * 38) (maybe)... that the Church of the Holy Cross at Kilgwrrwg, Monmouthshire, is one of the most remote parish churches in the UK still in regular use?
 * 39) ... that Sting supports Bees for Development?
 * 40) ... that William Addams Williams, the MP for Monmouthshire, ensured that newspapers were notified when they incorrectly listed his votes?
 * 41) ... that, aside from Monnow Bridge Gatehouse, the only standing portion that remains of Monmouth Town Walls and Defences is attached to a pub?
 * 42) ... that the Monmouth Methodist Church in Monmouth, Wales, was set back behind the houses along St James Street by law?
 * 43) ... that the Monmouth Regimental Museum displays a variety of objects, including a mediaeval "crock pot" and a baby gas mask (pictured)?
 * 44) ... that the Crown and Thistle Inn in Agincourt Square (pictured), Monmouth, was home to one of the earliest Masonic Lodges in Monmouthshire?
 * 45) ... that the species observed in Lower Hael Wood near Monmouth include ducks, skylarks, sparrowhawks and long-tailed tits?
 * 46) ... that George Vaughan Maddox, architect of Kingsley House and Hendre House (pictured), was a native of Monmouth?
 * 47) ... that the collection of the Nelson Museum, in Monmouth, Wales, was first housed in a gymnasium (exterior pictured) built by Lady Llangattock?
 * 48) ... that a sherd of medieval pottery was unearthed in 1956 at St James House in Monmouth?
 * 49) ... that the stable block of Newton Court, in Monmouth, hosts one of only three known breeding sites of the Greater Horseshoe Bat in Wales?
 * 50) ... that the very rare ghost orchid was once found in Fiddler's Elbow National Nature Reserve, near Monmouth, Wales?
 * 51) ... that the cider house at Great Manson Farm in Monmouth, Wales, has a rare, stone and wood cider mill?
 * 52) ... that boys from a Monmouth, Wales, prep school housed in The Grange won the British under-11 chess championship in 2003?
 * 53) ... that it is widely believed in Monmouth, Wales, that the late John "Mad Jack" Roocroft took his chain saw to the Indian Bean Tree in St James Square?
 * 54) ... that St John's in Monmouth, Wales, has been described as "one of Monmouth's best-kept secrets"?
 * 55) ... that Pentwyn Farm Grasslands, near Monmouth, hosts one of the largest populations of the green-winged orchid in Gwent?
 * 56) ... that on 13 March 2012, BBC News reported that 17 police stations in South East Wales would close to the public, including the Monmouth Police Station?
 * 57) ... that the Druid's Head Inn, an old public house in Monmouth, Wales, now serves as the headquarters of the Monmouth Rugby Football Club?
 * 58) ... that Glendower Street Congregational Church stood derelict for forty years before its conversion into the award-winning Glendower House?

Charles Rolls Challenge
The Charles Rolls Challenge was held to reward contributors, we had an amazing response, many people wrote 10, 20 even 50 articles, the top contributors are listed below.

Charles Rolls Challenge, 8 Best Images

Thank you!

Geoffrey of Monmouth Challenge
The Geoffrey of Monmouth Challenge was held to reward contributors, we had an amazing response, many people wrote 10, 20 even 50 articles, the top contributors are listed below.

Geoffrey of Monmouth Challenge, 8 Best Images

Thank you!

Images
There are over 1000 new images that have been donated to Wikimedia Commons since the project started, a gallery of all the new images related to Monmouth can be found here Anyone is free to to copy, distribute and transmit most images, video and audio on Wikipedia including the Monmouthpedia images page for commercial and non commercial purposes provided the author of the work is credited, (click on an image for full resolution and for author and license information). Click here for photos of Monmouth on Wikimedia Commons (use to search for specific images)

News
full press coverage on achievements and news page press contacts: john.cummings@undefinedmonmouthpedia.org and info@undefinedwikimedia.org.uk
 * QRpedia codes in Monmouth, This Month in GLAM, 1st February
 * Wikipedia puts Monmouth on frontier of a new kind of local history, Guardian, 26 January
 * Wikipedia project to cover life in Monmouth, BBC News, 30 December
 * Monmouth becomes the world’s first Wikipedia town monmouthshire.gov.uk, 2 January
 * Is Monmouthpedia The Future Of Wikipedia?, TechDirt, 5 January
 * Monmouth chosen for new Wikipedia venture, Monmouthshire Beacon, 29 Dec
 * Wikipedia vai criar a Monmouthpedia, Sol (Portuguese) 30 December
 * Wikipedia analizará la vida en un pueblo británico, Baquía (Spanish) 30 December

Partners

 * Wikimedia UK
 * Monmouth Shire Hall
 * Monmouthshire County Council
 * Monmouth Museum
 * Monmouth Civic Society
 * Computing at School
 * Monmouth Archaeological Society
 * University of Wales, Newport, South Wales Centre for Historical and Interdisciplinary Research
 * Swan Craft Studio
 * University of Birmingham
 * Gwent Archives
 * Monmouth Library
 * People's Collection Wales
 * Culturenet Cymru
 * Monmouth Beacon newspaper
 * Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools
 * Monmouth Comprehensive School
 * Monnow Voice

Contributors
Please add yourself to this list if you contribute to an article, sign it using four tildes ~ or click the Signature and Timestamp icon on the edit bar


 * John Cummings, facilitator Mrjohncummings (talk) 01:06, 7 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Rob Campbell, Monmouth Old Salt (talk) 18:38, 18 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Philbly (talk) 16:25, 3 December 2011 (UTC)Phil Bly, Monmouth
 * Iopensa (talk) 21:22, 4 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Guy Hamilton - Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:32, 5 December 2011 (UTC) .  In Chepstow, relatively experienced WP editor on local and other articles, happy to help out.
 * Honorine Jobert (talk) 16:57, 14 December 2011 (UTC)
 * welsh (talk) 08:33, 1 January 2012 (UTC) Particularly wider Monmouthshire and railways
 * Victuallers Roger Bamkin - Wikimedia UK (talk) 16:14, 1 January 2012 (UTC)
 * The Cavalry (Message me) 02:53, 3 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Owain (talk) 19:26, 6 January 2012 (UTC) &mdash; Newport, Monmouthshire
 * Martinevans123 (talk) 23:18, 13 January 2012 (UTC)
 * KJP1 (talk) 00:50 14 January 2012 - general architecture/history stuff
 * Andy Mabbett ( Pigsonthewing ); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 21:43, 17 January 2012 (UTC) Happy to help where I can: coordinates, templates, metadata/ microformats, QRpedia
 * Anthony Cope (talk) - Monmouth 22:00, 1 February 2012 (UTC)
 * Zangar (talk) 17:03, 21 February 2012 (UTC)
 * User:ACP2011 Anne (talk) 13:18, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Sam Downie, online comms (communications and social media / web assistant) Sam Downie (talk) 14:27, 21 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Charles Matthews (talk) 18:10, 8 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Llywelyn2000 from Wicipedia Cymraeg

How to contribute
Read the 16 page guide