Swindon Borough Council have appointed independent property advisor Bilfinger GVA to identify joint venture partners. Meanwhile adverts have been placed in trade journals and newspapers to invite organisations to submit proposals to help make Lydiard House and Park more sustainable and to reduce the local authority's £450,000 annual subsidy.
These are my ideas, arrived at with the help of the people of Swindon, who were gifted the property in 1943 when a visionary, philanthropic Swindon Corporation bought the Lydiard Park estate.
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These are my ideas, arrived at with the help of the people of Swindon, who were gifted the property in 1943 when a visionary, philanthropic Swindon Corporation bought the Lydiard Park estate.
Lydiard House
Unique selling point – scandal
Tell the story of the St John family
The links with the Tudors (perennially popular with children and adults alike)
The Civil War story
The Royal favourites and mistresses
The cheating husbands and wives
Henry, 1st Viscount St John - murderer
Henry, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke – Queen Anne’s Secretary at War – traitor
Links with the modern Royal Family
Every period of history is accessible through the House and the St John family
Lydiard House:
Open the front door again – a frequent complaint is that visitors think the house is closed.
Introduce modern interactive displays.
Introduce audio tour.
The story of the St Johns/the House/the restoration etc - told on film. This could also be sold as a DVD in the gift shop and used in marketing and PR – see local firm SwindonWeb...
Exhibitions: The costumes from the hugely popular Wolf Hall series recently went on tour. Why didn’t they come to Lydiard House?
Art exhibitions – seldom seen paintings from Swindon’s Modern Art Collection.
Photographic exhibitions – from the Lydiard House archives; Swindon Museum; STEAM; Local Studies and local history groups such as The Swindon Society, Rodbourne Community History Group etc.
Film nights: Interest appropriate e.g. Duchess – the story of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (there is a link to Lydiard House); Jane Austen - Sense and Sensibility; Pride and Prejudice etc; TV blockbusters – Downtown Abbey, the White Queen, The Tudors, Wolf Hall – the list is endless.
Talks and book signings: The historical/romantic novel reading public is huge - invite authors to give talks and book signings; ask Philippa Gregory author of numerous books on the Tudors and the Cousins War - her White Queen series has direct links with the Beauchamp/Tudor and St John families (see St Mary’s Church)
Improve and develop the gift shop:
I recently accompanied a group of American visitors and they couldn’t find enough items to buy!
Sell a variety of souvenirs at both ends of the market – expensive items, e.g. porcelain to tie in with Frederick St John, 2ndViscount Bolingbroke and how he spent the family fortune – pocket money gifts, Lydiard House fridge magnets, Lydiard House bookmarks etc
Sell items associated with the modern Royal Family – books, images of Diana, Princess of Wales – link with Lady Diana Spencer who became Viscountess Bolingbroke; Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; the love story, the wedding; Prince George and Princess Charlotte. William and Kate mugs, Lydiard House mugs.
Sell books by historical novelists such as Philippa Gregory and others
Sell DVDs
Seasonal activities:
Cream teas: - either on the front lawn or in the walled area between House and Church
Pony & trap ride around the Park’s restored home circuit and outer areas of the estate. To provide this investigate local farmers.
Historical re-enactors: The Woodvilles have made several visits to Lydiard Park in the past and were extremely popular. Their activities were centred on the Park (where they set up camp) and the walled garden (where they gave a display of archery). I would suggest in future they give some of their talks in the House and Church.
1940s re-enactors - there was an American/Prisoner of War Hospital at Lydiard Park. Recent Auto & Retro Festival was extremely successful but could have linked to the history of the House and brought in visitors.
Continue and expand Christmas activities in the House – e.g. carols, bell ringers etc
Mulled wine and mince pies in the Grand Hall.
Walled Garden
Art in the Garden – Sculpture, ceramics etc display by local artists.
Love Lydiard Craft Fayre – with costumed re-enactors – first event held 2015 was very successful – needs developing.
Guided walks and talks.
Classroom & stable block courtyard
Hands on experience of rural crafts – woodturning, lacemaking etc
Conference Centre:
How can the Council use the Conference Centre if the Chartridge contract, now in abeyance, is unlikely to be renewed?
Behind the scenes tour: American visitors received a tour around the upper rooms and they were fascinated.
Restore upper storey rooms for viewing - recreate a kitchen and a nursery. Investigate the Avebury Manor (National Trust) model – see reviews on http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186413-d2454273-Reviews-Avebury_Manor-Avebury_Wiltshire_England.html
Open a restaurant – a pre requisite for every stately home and historic attraction - how – consult thriving, local businesses.
Improve PR and marketing:
Ask the National Trust and Historic England (Head Offices in Swindon) to advise – there are teams available to do just that.
Work with St Mary’s Church who are doing a fantastic PR job with guided tours and talks – visitor numbers have increased.
Use local people to improve marketing and PR
Host interest appropriate TV programmes e.g. Antiques Roadshow, Flog It etc
Motorway sign – informs people on the lucrative, history rich, West Country heritage trail that we are here.
Explore avenues of grants and funding.
Introduce car parking charges – this may not be the most popular of suggestions but any new ‘partner' would suggest and implement this immediately.
Add a small charge to the Council Tax bill.
How's that to be going on with?
Sadly SBC pays lip service to the opinions of local people, but never involves us in decision making. Why not use local expertise and stop calling in expensive, cash guzzling, external organisations.
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| The Red Queen panel on the St John polyptych |
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| Philippa Gregory |
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| The White Queen |