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Ditchley Park
This year’s Friends summer outing was to the magnificent Ditchley Park in Oxfordshire, the Palladian mansion house built in the early 1720s for George Henry Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield.First port of...
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Kew Palace
Yet again Swindon in the Past Lane has been a little neglected in recent weeks as I begin work on my next book.The Ladies of Lydiard is due for publication by Hobnob Pressin Spring 2020 and I am busy...
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Barking up the wrong family tree
One of the first pieces of advice those new to family history research are given is to collect family stories from living relatives. I think the second should be, and then discard them (the stories –...
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Tower of London
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...
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Great Western Embroiderers
This week is your last chance to see the fantastic Great Western Embroiderers's exhibition at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Don't miss it.When my mother left school at the age of 14 her headmistress...
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Who was Dr John St John?
I was busy researching the life and times of Henrietta St John, a sad story of 18th century double standards set against a backdrop of letters and gardening. Henrietta’s so say ‘platonic’ relationship...
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Art in the Garden
Was this a good idea, I asked myself as I left Swindon in a deluge to visit the Art in the Garden exhibition at Avebury Manor?In 2011 Avebury Manor was the subject of a unique BBC and National Trust...
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Isabella Horsley Mayo
For me no trip to a country house or stately home is complete without a visit to the local church and a walk around the churchyard. So, following my tour of Avebury Manor and the Art in the Garden...
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Local History Hero - Andy Binks
Local history stalwart Roy Cartwright recently posted an article on Facebook in praise of the Local Studies Collection in Swindon Central Library, which gave me an idea.Over the next few weeks I intend...
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Field of Remembrance
The 2019 Royal Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance opens in the historic 18th century Walled Garden at Lydiard House on Friday November 1. A service of remembrance begins at 11 am with visitors...
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Local History Hero - Noel Beauchamp
And now a shout out for Noel Beauchamp, the third member of our Radnor Street Cemetery team.Noel has a knack of finding some fascinating cemetery stories. His latest one to air was that of Frederick...
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Local History Hero - Mark Sutton
The first time I went to one of Mark's Great War talks I came away feeling as if I personally knew the men he had mentioned. He told the story of the battles they fought in and the ones that claimed...
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Local History Hero - Graham Carter
So while we're on the subject of Swindon Heritage I'd like to mention former editor Graham Carter.In case you missed it, Swindon Heritage was a quarterly magazine for lovers of local history and was co...
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Radnor Street Cemetery - a virtual spring walk
Sadly, we have had to cancel our guided cemetery walks for the foreseeable future, but please don’t let that stop you enjoying Radnor Street Cemetery. Designed to serve not only as a cemetery but as a...
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A Virtual Mother's Day cemetery walk
On this, our virtual Mother's Day cemetery walk, I commemorate and celebrate the mothers of Swindon for their resilience and their determination. I begin with the story of Mary Ann Gee.Mary Ann and...
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A virtual cemetery walk to remember Swindon's fallen
During this Covid-19 crisis politicians and newscasters are telling us we are living in unprecedented times the like of which have not been experienced since the Second World War.There are more than...
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An armchair guided cemetery walk
Perfect weather conditions for a guided cemetery walk, but today we have to make do with an armchair visit. But that's not so bad, is it?Sadly, some of the gravestones in Radnor Street Cemetery are in...
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Let's doff our hats on today's virtual cemetery walk
As we all practise our social distancing skills, let's make an online exception and draw a little closer. Join me on another virtual cemetery walk. This morning we are staying close to the cemetery...
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Meet two inspirational railwaymen on our virtual cemetery walk
During these difficult times the early residents of the Railway Village could teach us a thing or two about community spirit.Today we are visiting the graves of two early railway workers who arrived in...
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Doing their bit - George and Elizabeth House.
At 8 pm yesterday evening the nation stood on its collective doorstep and clapped for the carers in the current corona virus crisis - particularly the doctors and nurses, but also all those who are...
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