Swindon in the Past Lane

So, what or where are you most looking forward to revisiting as lockdown eases.  I can't wait for the record offices and especially Local Studies in Swindon Central Library to re-open. I have documents and books I am desperate to get my hands on for research purposes. Talking about research and books, the Library Shop in Swindon Central Library is offering a deal on my two books, Struggle and Suffrage in Swindon and the recently published Ladies of Lydiard available at £25 for the two. The story of Swindon is that of a town of two halves. Transformed by the coming of the railways the women were on the front line of change, shaping the new industrial town and transforming the old market one. The story of Swindon's women includes artists and actresses, political activists and social reformers, as well as the ordinary women who worked in the factories, raised their children and made a difference. Struggle and Suffrage in Swindon tells the story of these women. From Mary Slade who ...

Mary Tuckey, spinster, died in 1837, before the advent of photography, and how I wish there was an image of her. I can imagine her seated at her dressing table beside the carved worked bed with the embroidered quilt, vallance and curtains. Or posed at the desk where she conducted her business and considered the property up for sale in Old Shaw Lane. There maybe a portrait in oil, prized in some distant descendants collection. Maybe a miniature hanging on a long golden chain. Who knows? Mary Tuckey was born in 1757, the second daughter and last child of Richard and Joanna Tuckey. In April 1834 she wrote her Will at Shaw House, the property left to her brother Thomas in their father's Will where she had lived with her mother Joanna. Mary died a wealthy woman, leaving property and parcels of land across the parishes of Lydiard Millicent and Rodbourne Cheney. She wrote off a sizeable debt owed her by her nephew John and everyone received a share of her money. She left beque...

So while we're on the subject of Swindon Heritage I'd like to mention former editor Graham Carter. In case you missed it, Swindon Heritage was a quarterly magazine for lovers of local history and was co founded in 2013 by Graham, First World War historian Mark Sutton and myself. During our five year career we published 20 editions plus a Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary special. There are still copies available at a knockdown price in the Library Shop, Central Library and bound copies of all 21 editions are on the shelf in Local Studies. But this wasn't Graham's only heritage publication achievement. Graham worked on the Swindon Advertiser from 1989-1998 before going freelance, returning to produce one off supplements. One of the supplements he researched, wrote and designed was the Chronicle of Swindon, a free insert which told the story of Swindon from pre-history to the new millennium.  You probably can't get your hands on a copy of this fantastic publ...