Buckingham’s brand new heritage exploration app is now live! Launched online on the 27th May, the app can be accessed by visiting or your smart phone or tablet https://buxplore.web.app and tapping on the white box at the bottom of the screen to download the app.
The Buxplore project started in 2019, when Buckingham Town Council had the idea to create a more exciting alternative to blue plaques to mark out the historic foundations of the town, from royal visits to war council meetings and community celebrations.
The app is fun and interactive, with each route featuring interactive challenges as well as stories, historic photographs, audio tours and more.
Supported by a £10,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, project work started in the autumn, and students from local schools were invited to take part. The name Buxplore, ideas about how the app should work and what routes include came from meetings between secondary school students at the Buckingham School, the Council and app developer Mark Vanstone from TechnoVisual.
While a physical launch has had to be delayed, the Council intends to host a celebration to all those who helped contribute at a later date; including local historians, Buckingham Library, Old Gaol Museum, Buckingham Society, Centre for Buckinghamshire studies and local schools. The app would not have been possible without the fantastic historic knowledge of those who volunteered to help with the project.
How to use the app:
Once you have visited https://buxplore.web.app and downloaded the app, you can get started straight away. Choose a route, then travel to the first location to unlock the hidden secrets related to that place.
There are different routes depending on your mood – some, including Heritage for Kids and the Murder Mystery contain challenges that must be completed before you can unlock the next location. By contrast, the Green route is best explored a little at a time. Buxplore saves your progress so you can come back and complete your route another day.
Virtual mode
We know some families are shielding at home. To help keep everyone entertained the app now contains a virtual mode. Choose your route, then visit the settings page to turn on virtual mode and you can explore Buckingham from the comfort of your own home.
Quotes:
Cllr. Geraldine Collins, Mayor of Buckingham: “The Council is extremely excited to share Buxplore with residents and visitors to Buckingham at a time when we know many more people are looking for fascinating walks in their local area. Buxplore gives us all the opportunity to spend more time in the town, finding the secret history amongst our beautiful green parks and buildings. We’re grateful to the National Lottery and their players for the chance to develop the project.”
Primary school student, Molly, who tested the app last week, said: “It was really, really great! The ammonite was my favourite. I like that it’s not behind a screen, it’s right there, and it feels like you’re a part of history.”