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Great Coxwell Barn
To the inexperienced eye the barn at Great Coxwell might appear big, but apparently as monastic barns go, it’s a bit on the small side. Measuring 152 feet and 7 bays long, records reveal examples of...
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Coleshill Model Farm
Innovation was the order of the day at Coleshill when work began on revamping the Earl of Radnor’s home farm. The previous farmstead had already received the seal of approval from radical politician...
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National Libraries Day 2013
Keith, the friendly face of Penhill LibraryAs the Swindon Advertiser broke the sorry news of library cuts across the town, what were the staff up to? Despite the demoralising process of restructuring,...
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National Libraries Day - Part Two
National Libraries Day celebrations didn't end on Saturday. Well not at Penhill Library they didn't where youngsters got down and sticky making musical instruments. With glitter as far as the eye...
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The Vic
Fans of live music will be looking anxiously at popular venue The Vic as news broke this week that it is up for sale. Licensees David Young and Anna Spawson have decided to call it a day after eight...
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Rosa and Ian Matheson
On a dark, cold winter’s evening in the magical, twinkly lit Pen & Paper Shop in Old Town, Rosa and Ian Matheson told a story of devotion, dedication and inspiration.Rosa Matheson may be better...
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Covent Garden
Today's Covent Garden is a very different place to where my 3x great grandfather George Ruthven used to pound his beat in 1810. Or is it?Once a 'convent' garden, the Italianate development was the...
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Swindon Pulse Wholefood Co-operative
The premises at 27 Curtis Street has a long history of retail. In 1971 Jack Trueman ran the long time family butchers shop. Before the Trueman family butchery Thomas H. Cave was a greengrocer at this...
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International Women's Day Celebrations in Swindon
Swindon Central Library celebrated International Women's Day with poetry, dancing and art in a day packed full of activities.In the morning Bea Menier shared her colourful journals and showed us how to...
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Front Doors on Bath Road
If an Englishman's home is his castle, what message is conveyed by these front doors on Bath Road? Pull up the drawbridge or welcome - step inside and stay awhile, let me take your coat and sit by the...
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Tuckey Family History Research
Jean and Tuc surrounded by young members of their family August 31st Wind still in the right quarter and blowing fresh. Passed Madeira today leaving it about 120 miles to the eastward. The weather is...
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Swindon Festival of Literature
The 20th Swindon Festival of Literature was well and truly launched today at The Old Reference Library, Swindon with masterful words, music and just a little mayhem.The Swindon Festival of Literature...
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Wednesday Cafe at Lower Shaw Farm
Once you’ve enjoyed the Lower Shaw Farm experience you’ll never truly leave the place again, even after you’ve moved away, as Claire will probably tell you.Claire spent four years as a volunteer at...
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May George
Described as the most active and progressive member to occupy a seat on the Town Council, May George was the first woman to hold the office of Mayor of Swindon. And apparently no one knew quite how to...
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James Smith Protheroe
From local dignitaries and Victorian edifices to pageants and poets, photographer James Smith Protheroe and his partner Thomas Henry Simons captured them all. But it could have turned out very...
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Ken White
An exhibition of Ken White’s work opens at The Post Modern, Theatre Square, Swindon on April 23to May 2 where visitors will be given a glimpse into the artists’ archives, including the preparatory work...
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Richard Woolford - sculptor, mason and convicted poacher
Was Richard Woolford motivated by criminal intent or poverty when he picked up his gun and headed off for Lord Bolingbroke’s land one winter’s night in 1834?Records show that Richard was charged with...
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Groundwell Farm
At the turn of the second millennium the future was looking bleak for the abandoned Groundwell Farmhouse. Left to stand empty for several years, it looked as if time was up for the Grade II listed...
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To Fitzroy and Eugenia with love - two Berkshire pigs and some meal
Today it is de rigueur for the about-to-be-married couple to circulate a gift list, but few would publish the results in the local paper. Yet this was common practice among the great and the good of...
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Swindon Heritage
Our second edition of Swindon Heritage is with the printers as I write and will be dropping through your letterboxes by the end of next week - that is if you are one of our fast growing list of...
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