In 1943 Harry Gough sold the properties he owned at Washpool and with his wife and two daughters moved into the mansion house at Lydiard Park, the first caretaker to be appointed following the purchase of the house and parkland by Swindon Corporation. Joyce Vincent, Harry's daughter, recalled the first night the family spent in their new des res: Moving to a house of that size, from a small house, was, to say the least, somewhat overwhelming and nerve racking. The first night I thought my father was the most cruel person on earth taking us there because there were no conveniences, we had candles and aladdin oil lamps, and instead of a cooker mother had to use what was known as a Triplex. It was like a fire place with an oven to one side. The downstairs wasn't too bad but the upstairs was in a terrible state. I don't think there was a bedroom ceiling that didn't have a hug hole in it somewhere. You could look through right up into the attic. Harry was in his mid fo...