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Sam James
I first met Sam James when he was three. I was a play group assistant at Lower Shaw Farm and so was his mum, Madeline. He enjoyed climbing and exploring – and painting, although we had to watch him as...
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Little London
Little London Court is today a complex of smart, new offices, but the area once had the dubious reputation of being the meanest street in Old Swindon.The area was named after a small community from...
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William A. Townsend
The Local Defence Volunteers, later known as the Home Guard, was launched on May 14, 1940 in response to Germany’s invasion of the Low Countries, and within 24 hours more than a quarter of a million...
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Fanny Catherine Hall
During the 1860s the property, then known as Morden House, served as a school with one former pupil who had a very famous local connection. Fanny Catherine Hall was the eldest of Martha and William...
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My Week
The week began with a walk around Lydiard Park in the company of my lovely daughter and granddaughter Maysie. It was fortunate we took advantage of a window in everyone's busy calender as little Maysie...
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Southbrook Inn
Regulars at the Southbrook Inn may be unaware that their favourite watering hole was once a dairy farm. In 1986 the 18thcentury building received a Grade II listing but a farm has stood on this site...
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A week in which I discover the joys of living in Toothill, Rodbourne and...
This week began with an endurance test, included a significant birthday, some excellent cemetery news and ended with an 10th anniversary and a fete.Across the Bank Holiday weekend the Swindon Heritage...
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Cheers and happy 170th birthday Arkell's
Bees still busy at work in the Walled Garden at Lydiard HouseWho would have thought Swindon could boast two literature festivals and a heritage magazine, along with all the other fantastic activities...
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Lydiard House and Park - safe?
This week I intended writing an affectionate, whimsical piece – about my little granddaughter and all things Lower Shaw Farm related, about the Mela and the wonderful Dorothy Clarke and how the amazing...
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Season of mists in Radnor Street Cemetery
The popular guided Radnor Street Cemetery walks are about to resume with our first event taking place on October 19. You can book a place here in the comments section of this blog post or on our...
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Season of mists Pt II
The popular guided Radnor Street Cemetery walks are about to resume with our first event taking place on October 19. You can book a place here in the comments section of this blog post or on our...
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Season of mists Pt III
The popular guided Radnor Street Cemetery walks are about to resume with our first event taking place on October 19. You can book a place here in the comments section of this blog post or on our...
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Season of mists Pt IV
The popular guided Radnor Street Cemetery walks are about to resume with our first event taking place on October 19. You can book a place here in the comments section of this blog post or on our...
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Season of mists - last day
The popular guided Radnor Street Cemetery walks are about to resume with our first event taking place on October 19. You can book a place here in the comments section of this blog post or on our...
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Monet's Garden - in need of the National Trust
I don't very often leave the confines of Swindon, but I recently marked a significant birthday and my daughter treated me to a weekend in France to lessen the pain.We had a wonderful, if frenetic, two...
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Rouen
And then in the afternoon we went to Rouen - there was no hanging about on this trip!Famous for its medieval streets and the Notre Dame Cathedral, we were deposited for a mere two hours to explore this...
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Performers Without Borders (or safety nets)
These daring highline walkers are helping fund raise to send Jake Hirsch Holland to Ocotal, Nicaragua to work with Performers Without Borders. They are performing at the Spectrum Renault building until...
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In which I engage in a bit of name dropping!
Quite frankly I think it's time to name names. People might not thank me for it, but I think Swindon in the Past Lane readers deserve to know who you are.So what has sparked this outburst? Funnily...
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For the Fallen
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,We will remember them.For the Fallen by Laurence...
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If Ye Forget
If Ye ForgetLet me forget — Let me forget,I am weary of remembrance,And my brow is ever wet,With the tears of my remembrance,With the tears and bloody sweat,Let me forget.If ye forget — If ye...
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