Swindon in the Past Lane

Yesterday evening I attended a very interesting meeting chaired by Robert Buckland MP for Swindon South. The purpose of the meeting was twofold – to discuss how to better protect and use buildings central to Swindon’s heritage and the subject of the new Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Those present spoke with passion, although it has to be said, sometimes without good manners or respect for opposing views. The new museum and art gallery is planned for a large, empty site between the magistrate’s court and the Wyvern Theatre in Princes Street, the designated Cultural Quarter of the Council’s regenerated Town Centre.  Some felt it should be situated in the former Carriage Works on London Street. So that was the gist of the meeting … No one questioned that the town needs a new art gallery to better showcase the acclaimed modern art collection, acknowledged as the best outside London. No one doubted that the town needs a new museum to better tell the story of S...

So, what is the history behind Can Court Farm and where should I begin my research? Last week I came across the grave of Margaret Fanny Willis in the abandoned churchyard at Eysey and traced her husband and sister in law, brother and sister Ernest and Ellen Willis, to Can Court, Lydiard Tregoze. Now I want to know more about the farm where they grew up, and where best to turn to but the Friends of Lydiard Tregoz Reports published annually from 1968 – 2007. These reports are a mine of information to those interested in Lydiard Park and the surrounding area, and the St John family. The Friends are currently digitising the Reports and some of them are available to members through the website. Central Library, Swindon also have a complete bound set available on their shelves in Local Studies. In Report No. 15 published in 1982, Canon Brian Carne wrote an article about Can Court and some of its owners and occupiers. The Bradford family were tenant farmers in the parish of Ly...