Swindon in the Past Lane

Swindon Open Studios - personal highlights. A tour of Olive House and talking about Swindon Suffragette Edith New with Marilyn Trew. Meeting Lizzie Kendall and making a Buddhist prayer flag. Viewing  Paul Exton 's Bradenstoke Priory Triptych and planning a  Radnor Street Cemetery  project. Talking to Claire ( The Bear's Kiln ) about Swindon Suffragette Edith New. And talking to Sally Taylor  about inspiration, innovation and Salubritas et Industria. Swindon Open Studios continues tomorrow and next Saturday/Sunday September 10/11. Visit the website for more details. Olive House Stained glass front door, Olive House More stained glass, Olive House And yet more stained glass Olive House I spy Swindon175's Caroline Black talking to Swindon 105.5 presenter Dave Woods Home is where the heart is, by Claire Eastcott Studios Surrounded by Beauty by Carmen B. Norris You might like to read more ...

Three years ago I visited the newly revamped Avebury Manor . In 2010 the BBC in partnership with the National Trust refurbished and redecorated nine rooms in the empty manor house, each in a different period of history as part of a series called The Manor Reborn. (You can still view a few short clips  here). The fixtures and fittings were a mixture of antique fair purchases and creative up-cycling and in some cases new pieces made in the style of ...  As nothing is irreplaceable or intrinsic to the house, visitors are allowed, nay encouraged, to sit on the chairs, open cupboards and drawers and bounce on the beds. The whole project was something of an experiment and it is probably fair to say the National Trust had certain reservations, but it has been a resounding success and on each subsequent visit I have made the house has been busy, so much so there is a timed entry to prevent the rooms becoming too crowded. Now I'm not suggesting taking down the red ropes in the st...