Swindon in the Past Lane

You will soon be seeing our beautiful poster (designed by Swindon Heritage editor Graham Carter) round town, advertising the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale on November 12. And in March 1909 members of the WSPU were busy organising their Women's Exhibition too. ‘Just before her arrest and imprisonment for taking part in the deputation to the Prime Minister on February 24, Mrs Pethick Lawrence was at work on a beautiful piece of embroidery in the colours intended for the Woman’s Exhibition. And Mrs Pankhurst, having a long railway journey before her between two meetings, considered what she could do for the Exhibition, and, following Mrs Lawrence’s example, also plied her needle at embroidery. With the leaders of the movement thus filling in every spare moment in working for the cause they have so much at heart, it is not surprising that the rank and file follow suit. And at the present moment, with one of its leaders and many brave comrades in prison, and, in co...

As if they knew we here in Swindon are celebrating a significant anniversary, my favourite team of experiential historian Ruth Goodman with archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn bring to our TV screens Full Steam Ahead the story of how the railways created modern Britain. Previously the team have show us what life was like for the agricultural worker in the Tudor, Victorian, Edwardian and Wartime periods but in their new series they turn their attention to the phenomenon of the railways. Closer to home we have been celebrating the coming of the railways and the creation of New Swindon with Swindon175 . During a busy Spring and Summer there have been numerous events including the Swindon175 Images, an exhibition sharing the history of Swindon during the last 150 years; the Swindon Arts Trail and the Swindon Fringe Festival, not forgetting the Swindon Heritage History Day. There has been the recreation of the famous railway factory hooter made by Colin Hatch and sponsor...

Today we have not one, not even two but three guided walks taking place at Radnor Street Cemetery, each one taking a different route and visiting different graves. Noel Beauchamp, Andy Binks, Noel Ponting and I will be taking you on two different GWR themed guided walks around the cemetery at 11 am and 2 pm while at 12.30 Phil Comley will be conducting a guided walk of the military graves. Working in partnership with Swindon175 we have a growing number of exhibitors joining us for the first ever Swindon Heritage History Day. Want to know where your ancestor is buried in Radnor Street Cemetery? We will have volunteers who can search the burial registers for you. And if you'd like to know more about your ancestor's funeral, visit the staff at the A.E. Smith stand who will be bringing copies of their ledgers with them. Cemetery follower Maggie says: "Bring photos and information about your ancestors who are buried at Radnor Street cemetery. We'll have temporary...

Our regular guided cemetery walk takes place today, Sunday June 12 meet at Radnor Street Cemetery for 2 pm. It looks like the weather might be a bit unpredictable, but don't let that put you off - the cemetery is a beautiful place in all seasons. This week I met up with two ladies researching their Alley family ancestors. Wendy is no stranger to Swindon having grown up here, but Di had made the journey from Australia after discovering some shocking news a couple of years ago. Read more in the Autumn edition of Swindon Heritag e. There are more than 100 Commonwealth War Graves in Radnor Street Cemetery published courtesy of Andy Preston published courtesy of Andy Preston Wendy and Di 

The team from Swindon Heritage will be launching the publication of the Autumn edition of the magazine at the Richard Jefferies Museum tomorrow. The farmhouse at Coate was the home of Victorian naturist, novelist, poet and journalist Richard Jefferies and throughout the day Dr Mike Pringle will be conducting tours of the property. Mike will also be signing copies of his own book Swindon - Remembering 1914-18, the story of how Swindonians served in and survived the Great War. Read about Kate Tryon in the Autumn edition of Swindon Heritage. An American artist and Jefferies devotee, Kate wrote an account of the first of her three visits to Jefferies Land to accompany a series of paintings, some of which will be on display at the museum tomorrow. Visitors are invited to join the Bluegate Poets annual open day and barbecue, which begins at 3pm. Come and make a day of it at the Richard Jefferies Museum, Coate . Mike Pringle Richard Jefferies Kate Tryon ...

The people of Swindon marked the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War across the town in a variety of events this week. On Monday August 4 Dr Mike Pringle (pictured below) launched the publication of his book Great War Britain - Swindon: Remembering 1914-18. A professional in the arts and heritage sector, Mike follows in the footsteps of headteacher WD Bavin who in 1922 was commissioned by Swindon Corporation to write Swindon's War Record. Read more about Mike's book in The Link Magazine . Tuesday was a busy day for Swindon in the Great War volunteers who welcomed Swindon Mayor Teresa Page to open their exhibition - One Town's War - at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road, Swindon. The exhibition, created by volunteers and funded by an HLF grant, features exhibits and artefacts donated by Great War historians Mark Sutton and Richard Fisher. The exhibition will run until January 31, 2015. The Museum is open Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 3pm. On Frida...