Swindon in the Past Lane

Charles II celebrated his restoration to the throne by engaging in a bit of home improvements on the Tudor built St James's Palace, London and a makeover in the surrounding parkland with a new canal some 2,560 ft long and 125 ft wide. In 1664 the Russian Ambassador to Charles gave the king a pair of pelicans to grace the new canal and 400 years later the tradition of pelicans in the park continues. But not to be outdone Sir Walter St John also made a contribution to the monarch's new park from his country home at Lydiard with a gift of some Muscovy ducks. Although Sir Walter had fought on the Parliamentary side in the Civil War and had been considered somewhat backward in kissing the hand of the recently restored king, you could say Sir Walter was almost 'family.' When Charles returned to England from exile he was accompanied by his favourite (well she was then) mistress Barbara Palmer, later to be created Countess Castlemaine. Barbara was Walter's great...

It might not have felt very Springlike today, with squally showers and a chilly blast, but the forecast for the rest of the week is looking promising and I feel in a buoyant Lydiard House and Park mood. Next week sees the last in the Behind Closed Doors series of events on March 16 at 7 pm when Jane Rutherfoord will talk about ancient wall paintings and her fascinating conservation work at St Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze. For more information visit the Friends of Lydiard Park website. Lydiard House, which has been closed since before Christmas, reopens on March 19 with a new exhibition called Lydiard at War. And then yesterday yet more information arrived concerning future events at Lydiard House including the Friends AGM on May 7.  Mike Bowden, Chairman of the Friends, writes: "Given the very serious threat Lydiard House and Park is currently under and the uncertainty of its future remaining in public hands, we will devote our afternoon to this issue, providing you...

Who would have thought that I'd enjoy a talk about cleaning? At yesterday's Behind Closed Doors event Frances Yeo, curator at Lydiard House (and STEAM Museum) explained how she and her staff care and clean the collection. There were quite a few surprises in store, but it all made perfect sense. She explained why visitors might notice a discreet coating of dust on some of the surfaces and the less obvious that surface is, the thicker the dust - but as Frances explained, this isn't lazy housekeeping. Dragging a cloth across a dusty table top can cause an amazing amount of damage. Apparently dust isn't a problem until it is several layers deep and this could take up to two years to accumulate. So no need to dust every week then - which has been my argument for, well a lot longer than two years! Frances explained all about heat, humidity and light recordings and the difficult job of coping with the antiquated heating system in Lydiard House. The niceties of when t...

The Behind Closed Doors event at Lydiard House continues this week with an afternoon talk. Wed 3rd February 2.30 pm Wigs, Ruffs and Robes - Discover hidden stories behind the portraits of sumptuously dressed aristocrats with Lydiard House educationalist Nancy Heath. All the tours and talks in this series of events are free (donations are welcomed) but places are limited and you do need to book a place. Telephone Charlotte Thwaites on 01793 465277 or email cthwaites@swindon.gov.uk. For details about forthcoming events visit the Lydiard Park or the Friends of Lydiard Park websites. by Maria Verelst This little dimpled darling is Holles St John, youngest son of Henry 1st Viscount St John and his second wife Angelica Pellisary. Angelica had 12 children, but only four survived to adulthood, George (1693-1716); Henrietta (1699-1756); John (1702-49) and Holles (1710-38). Little is know about Holles excepting that he was an equerry to Queen Carolin...

Behind Closed Doors is a series of talks and tours taking place at Lydiard House and beginning this coming Saturday, January 23. Sat 23rd Jan 2.30pm The Ladies of Lydiard - An entertaining tour with local historian Frances Bevan revealing the secrets and talents of Lydiard ladies through the centuries. Wed 3rd February 2.30pm Wigs, Ruffs and Robes - Discover hidden stories behind the portraits of sumptuously dressed aristocrats with Lydiard House educationalist Nancy Heath. Sat 13th Feb 2.30pm Keeping up Appearances - Frances Yeo, Curator of Lydiard House shows how the Lydiard collection is cared for and demonstrates ways you can look after your own treasured possessions and furnishings. Sat 20th Feb 2.30pm Grand Designs Architect Michael Gray explains how the St. John family tried to assert and maintain their aristocratic status by commissioning art, architecture and landscape at Lydiard Park 1615 - 1748. Wed 24th Feb 7pm The Ladies of Lydiard - An entertaini...

You know how it happens - a group of lads out on the town, everyone's having a good laugh and then one bloke has a drink too many.  And before you've worked out who said what to whom, someone's got their rapier out. Born in 1652 Henry St John was the second child and eldest son of Sir Walter and Lady Johanna.  He grew up at the Battersea Manor House under the stern eye of his Puritan mother during the austere post war years of the Commonwealth. With the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 it could be fairly said that Henry entered into the spirit of the new age.  Anxious to save him from his worst excesses, Sir Walter and Lady Johanna swiftly married him off in 1673 to Mary Rich, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick.  Sir Walter settled the Lydiard estate on his eldest son and the newly weds divided their time between Battersea and Wiltshire. But in 1684 Henry was between marriages.  His first wife Mary had died in 1678 following the birth of their ...

For those of you who may have missed this item, which appeared on the Swindon Advertiser website yesterday afternoon, SBC has agreed to debate the Lydiard House and Park issue at the next council meeting. 'There will be a debate surrounding the future of Lydiard House and Park at the next council meeting, despite a petition with 8,000 signatures not meeting the necessary requirements to trigger one. Swindon Borough Council are looking at leasing the popular site as a cost saving measure despite strong protests from residents. Thousands of people signed a petition calling for the move to be stopped, comfortably passing the 1,500 normally needed to trigger a debate at full council. However, the signatories need to live within the borough and because the petition, set up on Change.org could not prove this, it did not qualify. But Council Leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) says he recognises the level of interest in the issue and a motion on the proposals will be tabled a...

Public Meeting The Friends of Lydiard Park have organised a public meeting on Tuesday January 12, 2016 at 7pm. The venue is Lydiard Park Academy, Grange Park Way, Swindon SN5 6HN. Speakers will be from The Friends and councillors from both the Conservative and Labour groups. Please try to make the time to attend. We look forward to meeting many of you and hearing what YOU have to say. Behind Closed Doors events at Lydiard House beginning January 23. Don't forget to book! Sat 23rd Jan 2.30pm The Ladies of Lydiard - An entertaining tour with local historian Frances Bevan revealing the secrets and talents of Lydiard Ladies through the centuries. Wed 3rd Feb 2.30pm Wigs, Ruffs and Robes - Discover hidden stories behind the portraits of sumptuously dressed aristocrats with Lydiard House educationalist Nancy Heath. Sat 13th Feb 2.30pm Keeping Up Appearances - Frances Yeo, Curator of Lydiard House, shows how the Lydiard collection is cared for and demo...

Lydiard House will be closed during January, February and March 2016. Intensive cleaning and care of the collections will take place during this period and the house will re-open with a new exhibition in time for the Easter holidays. During the winter months the Friends of Lydiard Park , in partnership with Lydiard House, will be holding a series of free talks and tours called Behind Closed Doors. Lydiard House has a fantastic collection of portraits and paintings, and I will be introducing you to some of the fascinating Ladies of Lydiard during a guided portrait tour on Saturday January 23 at 2.30 pm and again on Wednesday February 24 at 7 pm. The remodelled Palladian mansion dates from the middle of the 18th century and incorporates features from a much older Tudor building, but a dwelling has existed in the parkland for much, much longer than this. So who was the first lady to live at Lydiard Park? Well it wasn't Edith Stourton, born in around 1375 who became the second ...