Swindon in the Past Lane

As a child growing up in London I visited the Tower of London on numerous occasions. I have two crumpled photographs taken on a primary school visit when I was about nine years old. I can't remember anything about the visit and I'm amazed anyone had a camera back in the day! My Auntie Ruth, a force for cultural improvement in my youth, took me on a visit. Sadly all I remember about this one was queuing for what seemed like hours to see the Crown Jewels. I don't even remember the jewels, just the queue. More than thirty years later I made the same 'Auntie Ruth error' and took my own three children when they were probably too young to appreciate the history. They can remember little about the day, apart from a boat trip on the Thames and some costumed actors in the Medieval Palace (proving what an important role these re-enactors play in childrens' learning). Recently I visited the tower again on my own to see the areas I have never managed to on pre...

The uncertainty surrounding the future of Lydiard House and Park ended yesterday when Swindon Borough Council confirmed that the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust was the preferred bidder in the outsourcing process. The decision itself will be taken at the cabinet meeting next Tuesday, March 15. Trustees of the not-for-profit Lydiard Park Heritage Trust include Sarah Finch-Crisp former Director of Chiswick House and Gardens Trust and previously Head of Heritage at Swindon Borough Council who led The Lydiard Park Restoration Project in 2005. The £5 million project saw the restoration of the 18 th century parkland, including the Walled Garden. Other trustees include Daniel Rose, who is chair of The Mechanics’ Institution Trust and sits on the Swindon Heritage board and Gary Bond, Managing Director of McArthurGlen who was responsible for the Swindon Railway works redevelopment (one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK).This role and his work at McArthurGlen has involved ...

Council Leader David Renard stated in his column in the Advertiser this week that 't he council works very closely with heritage groups within the town' but there are many volunteers who would refute this assertion. Cllr Renard was answering claims that Swindon Borough Council neglects heritage assets following the disastrous  fire at the Coate Agricultural Museum on New Year's Eve.  He concluded his column with the following statement: 'Unfortunately, the passage of time does not make it easy to bring these buildings back to their former glory, but that does not mean we should not try. Letting our heritage fall by the wayside is not on our agenda.' Well sadly Cllr Renard, many of us feel it is. Save Swindon’s Heritage , a new facebook group formed following council tenant GLL’s announcement to develop part of the historic Health Hydro, a Grade II listed building, has registered more than 720 members in just 9 days. The listing of buildings came out of...

St. Mary’s Church Lydiard Tregoze, which lies on the western edge of Swindon in historic Lydiard Park, has received initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to conserve its gorgeous interiors. The project aims include conserving the buildings extensive medieval wall paintings, 17th Century monuments like the famous Golden Cavalier, ancient carved woodwork and star spangled ceiling. The grant of £131,700 towards this £186,700 phase will enable the church to complete its development plans and progress to applying for a full grant of £746,700 in 2017/18. The project aims to rescue the church from deteriorating further and improve public access, re-open the hidden south porch and create a welcoming interpretation and activity area. The church plans a wide range of educational activities and events as well as offering training and volunteer opportunities for local people, families, school children and higher education students. These will include hands on conservation works...

Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale next Saturday, November 12 at the Christ Church Community Centre 1-4pm. Members of the Kennet Decorative Fine Arts Society will also be exhibiting and selling at our craft sale, they are part of a national registered charity for anyone interested in art. They told us: You do not need to know anything about the arts to enjoy our varied programme of talks from Lord Byron to pub signs! The original society was started by Patricia Fay in 1965 and became a national Registered Charity ‘NADFAS’ in 1972. As well as talks, visits and days of special inter est we also volunteer to help heritage areas, locally that is St Mary’s Lydiard and The Merchant’s House Marlborough. We also support young people in art. We meet at The Ellendune Centre, Wroughton on the third Monday of the month, September to June; December is the second Monday. Refreshments are available from 10am, talks start at 11am. More information on our website:  www.kennetdfas.co.uk ...

On June 25, 2016 the recently created  Lydiard Park Heritage Trust  announced the names of the inaugural trustees. Mike Bowden (Chair) - Former FTSE 100 Managing Director and Company Secretary and currently CEO Swindon Speedway Per-Axel Warensjo (Vice-Chair) – Former Finance and HR Director within the technology sector and currently a local Parish chairman and CFO of Swindon Speedway. Kevin Fisher - Swindon resident for 54 years, electronics engineer background and former employee of a multinational technology company where he held various European level management roles. Currently chair of the Shaw Residents' Association Sarah Finch Crisp - Former Director of Chiswick House and Gardens Trust and previously Head of Heritage at Swindon Borough Council and led The Lydiard Park Restoration Project Richard Howroyd - Chartered Accountant and procurement professional with significant public/private sector experience. He has lived in Swindon for over 15 years. He is curr...

A busy day at St Mary's yesterday. Lovely new contacts made and a request from the stewards in the church for a guided churchyard walk. Here are photographs of some of the graves we visited. Next guided churchyard walk takes place Sunday June 26. Jonas Clark from Wick Farm Henry and Rebecca Rudler from Banner's Ash Farm Delicate detail on this tabletop memorial Mary Ody  Intricate detail Says it all