Swindon in the Past Lane

If you wondered what had happened to the Taylor Wimpey application to build on a field close to Lydiard House and Park, it hasn't gone away! Here is a link to Roger Ogle's report.  Please read the information below and consider making your objection - and do please share this blogpost. State bedroom fine architectural features Library Lady Bolingbroke taking tea on the front lawn Stable block area Stable block area Stable block Walled garden St Mary's Church, Lydiard Park St John family memorial details of boss in the Tudor barrel vaulted roof Medieval wall painting St John polyptych

Helen Shapiro knew a thing or two about walking. Today I joined Andy Binks from the Swindon Society as he led a group from the Swindon Health Walks on a guided tour of the Railway Village. The Walking for Health initiative aims to improve your general well being; help reduce your risk of developing serious health conditions; lift your mood and introduce you to new people. Andy and I had a great time and here are the photographs to prove it. Andy assembles the troops Walking along the backsies - or what do you call them? In Reading Street Andy tells the story of a serious case of overcrowding The Mechanics' Institute Bristol Street St Mark's Church The GWR Park Park House Taunton Street and the home of Jim Hurst, king of all engine drivers the old Medical Fund Hospital Milton Road Baths and the Medical Fund Hospital provided a blue print for Aneurin Bevan's National Health Serv...

Our regular guided walk takes place this Sunday, August 14 at Radnor Street Cemetery. Meet at the Chapel for 2pm. The cemetery opened in 1881. Here is a description taken from a trade directory two years later. SWINDON CEMETERY.- Situate on the hill at the west of Swindon, this enclosure of about eleven acres commands beautiful views over the vale of Swindon, and for many miles to the west and north. The chapel, in the centre of the ground, is in the Early English style, with apsidal east-end, vestry and bell-turret, and accommodates 100 persons. There is also a mortuary chapel. The main entrances are at Clifton-street, which is convenient for funerals from Old Swindon, and at Redcross-street, easily accessible from the new town over Cambria-bridge. At the latter entrance is the lodge, a substantial and convenient residence for the care-taker. The number of burials in the cemetery from the day of the opening, August 6th, 1881, to the end of December, 1882, were 309. Burial Board (f...

Lydiard House and Park was busy today as families enjoyed the August sunshine. A steady stream of visitors filed through Lydiard House and front of house staff were heard to say it had been so busy they could have done with another pair of hands in the reception. With barbecue bookings booming and the Coach House Tea Rooms doing a roaring trade, had the parking charges deterred visitors? It didn't look like it. Get up close and personal with me in Lydiard House and the Walled Garden.