Swindon in the Past Lane

Our regular guided walk takes place this Sunday, August 14 at Radnor Street Cemetery. Meet at the Chapel for 2pm. The cemetery opened in 1881. Here is a description taken from a trade directory two years later. SWINDON CEMETERY.- Situate on the hill at the west of Swindon, this enclosure of about eleven acres commands beautiful views over the vale of Swindon, and for many miles to the west and north. The chapel, in the centre of the ground, is in the Early English style, with apsidal east-end, vestry and bell-turret, and accommodates 100 persons. There is also a mortuary chapel. The main entrances are at Clifton-street, which is convenient for funerals from Old Swindon, and at Redcross-street, easily accessible from the new town over Cambria-bridge. At the latter entrance is the lodge, a substantial and convenient residence for the care-taker. The number of burials in the cemetery from the day of the opening, August 6th, 1881, to the end of December, 1882, were 309. Burial Board (f...

Well, what more could I have asked for? Visitors on yesterday's guided St Mary's churchyard walk had Ody ancestors and arrived with a family tree and photographs. And another visitor was descended from Edwin Edmonds, buried close to the churchyard gates, and gave us a unique glimpse of her versatile ancestor. On the next walk on June 19 I will include some different graves with different stories to tell. Next Saturday sees the beginning of the Old Town Festiva l with an exciting programme of events including a Family Day on Sunday 12 in the Lawns. The Swindon Heritage team will be there as well and the regular guided walk at Radnor Street Cemetery will take place as usual. Meet at the chapel for 2pm. We will be visiting another Lydiard Tregoze resident, Richard Strange from Mannington Farm The grave of Noah and Sarah Ody in St Mary's churchyard, Lydiard Park - published courtesy of Duncan and Mandy Ball Edwin Edmonds who left his signature on window...