Enjoyable history of this west sussex village from ancient times to the present autobiography family life. The swindon arts centre is situated at the heart of swindon s old town on devizes road. The postcode is within the central wardelectoral division, which is in the constituency of south swindon. This was the heyday of swindon works, when 14,000 people were employed and the main locomotive fabrication workshop, the a shop was, at 11. Gorse hill is a couple of miles from swindon town centre, and has its own shopping area, pubs, schools, car parks, library, a few churches and park.
People have lived in the town since the bronze age and the towns location, being approximately halfway between bristol and london, made it an ideal location for the locomotive factories of the great western railway in the 19th century. Swindon is first mentioned by name in domesday book. History of blunsdon st andrew, in swindon and wiltshire. This page combines information for the address oxford street, swindon, sn1 5da, and the neighbourhood in which it resides. List of swindon libraries with location maps, opening times including extended hours where relevant, contact details and specific facilities. Antiquarian books on a shelf in our reference library in swindon. Swindon history chronicling swindons rich heritage. If you are an archivist or custodian of this archive you can use the archive update. Around two hundred years ago, swindon was a quiet and almost unknown market town on a hill in rural north wiltshire. Its location to the north of the marlborough downs and on the southern end of the vale of white horse, with access to the river cole and others, made it suitable for use as farming land. An extensive look back at swindon towns illustrious history.
The 105year, 4,000mile journey for one historical swindon book. A partial history of swindon in film clips running from 1918 to 1969. This building is now a museum and opens on wednesday and saturdays, you cant miss it in the town centre. Homepage for swindon libraries, including links to all pages in section. In this section we bring you an insight into how our town has changed over the years, and hopefully bring back a few memories for some of you.
Oct 16, 2008 bbc wiltshire website, broadcasting house, 5658 prospect place, swindon, wilts, sn1 3rw telephone. Download the app get a free listing advertise 0800 777 449. Although mentioned in the domesday book of 1086, the small settlement only had a population of 1,198 in 1801, at the time of the first official census, slightly less than the neighbouring towns of wootton basset 1,244, cricklade 1,333 and considerably smaller than highworth. Wiltshire community history wiltshire and swindon archives. Surveys and excavations at kiln park in toothill during the early 1970s, found about 40 pottery kilns and in 2004, a dig took place at groundwell ridge. The town itself is largely perceived as being a bland and relic of 1960s concrete architecture, and thanks to programmes like ricky gervaises the office the towns image is further reduced to a sadly comedic status. A journey through swindons history including the gwr railway works, the origins of old town, roman settlements, the car industry, dday and chiseldon camp. Apr 01, 2017 an extensive look back at swindon towns illustrious history. From the ordnance survey 1890s revision of the one inch to one mile map.
Other holdings recorded in the domesday book are at west swindon, where 2 hides were held by ulward and 1. Wiltshire council wiltshire community history get community. The anglosaxon settlement of swindon sat in a defensible position atop a limestone hill. Join the library, search the catalogue, make renewals and reservations, and find your. Indeed ranks job ads based on a combination of employer bids and relevance, such as your search terms and other activity on. Oxford street in swindon is in the south west region of england. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Swindon town football club was founded by reverend william pitt of liddington in 1879. Smaller estates at walcot, even swindon and broome are also noted. The first sculpture in west swindon, cast in ferroconcrete at swindon s town hall studios, is one of carletons last works and due to his illhealth was largely completed by sculptor pat elmore.
Swindon historian david marchant has granted bbc wiltshire access to his collection of photos of the town in years gone by. The swindon advertiser was founded in 1854 by william morris great grandfather of desmond morris. On its eight miles of shelves are stored diaries, letters, books, maps. From the swindon canal to its railway period, i take a walk round old town and talk about swindon s past. The name swindon is derived from the saxon words swine dun meaning pig hill or the hill where pigs were bred. Apr 15, 2020 by 1881 the population of swindon exceeded 15,000. History of blunsdon st andrew, in swindon and wiltshire map. But it was still 2 settlements, the old town and the new town, divided by fields. Dec 03, 2008 swindon, it seems, has had its very own take on the nhs for the last 150 years or so. Although mentioned in the domesday book of 1086, the small settlement only had a population of 1,198 in 1801, at the time of the first official census, slightly less than the neighbouring towns of wootton basset 1,244, cricklade 1,333 and considerably smaller than highworth, which then boasted a population of 2,328. A timeline of the history of swindon local histories.
Memories of swindon swindon 1957 to 1966 we moved to swindon in 1957 from london wimbledon, actually when my dad, a skilled engineer, got a job at vickers armstrongs at south marston, with a brand new council house thrown in. Dec 27, 2008 the places where the story of britain is told. The quality of the buildings and their significance for railway history were such that a more detailed study was justified. Swindon is the xxth largest city of the uk, the xxth largest cityof europe and the xxth largest city ofthe world. William morris died at the age of 65 in 1891 and the paper passed. The story is illustrated by more than 150 archive and contemporary images. Using a boiler and engine built in the swindon works of the great western railway, they produced 5,000 copies a week in 1870, it was renamed the swindon advertiser and wiltshire, berkshire and gloucestershire chronicle. Wiltshire and swindon archives wiltshire and swindon history.
It was demolished in 1969 to make way for the brunel plaza. Books about sussex, southern england and the south downs. At the swindon and wiltshire history centre its not just books and paper we have to care for. Historical swindon then and now swindonweb history. The wiltshire and swindon history centre is home to over 800 years of history, holding records that tell the story of the county and its people since the 12 th century.
Synopsis this new history gives a vivid and lively insight into the ways in which the old and new towns evolved. The venue hosts a varied programme of entertainment all year round made up of both professional and amateur productions. A level ancient history is a qualification highly respected by universities. In 1984, however, many of the works buildings were under threat due to rationalisation within british rail engineering ltd. Originally intended to be a weekly paper, his aim was to produce a newspaper that would act as a mouthpiece for the poor. In 187072, john marius wilsons imperial gazetteer of england and wales described blunsdon st andrew like this. Swindon arts centre is a 212seat entertainment venue located in the old town area of swindon, wiltshire, england. You will be really surprised how much a centre of roman life swindon is and we really want people who live here to find out more about important local history from 2,000 years ago.
Andrew, or little blunsdon, a parish in highworth district, wilts. Indeed may be compensated by these employers, helping keep indeed free for jobseekers. Swindon has grown from a population of just 1,198 in 1801 to over 150,000 in 2001. Read about the history of swindon and see specially selected. In the same year, the paper was printed using steam power for the first time. Our archive is one of the largest publicly accessible archives in the uk dedicated to the historic environment. The swindon arts centre is situated at the heart of swindons old town on devizes road.
The wiltshire and swindon history centre is home to over 800 years of history, holding. Following the latest advice from government in relation to covid19 coronavirus the public search room and library are now closed and services are suspended until further notice. Read about the history of swindon and see specially. The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime, the eyre affair, inheritance. The venue hosts a varied programme of entertainment all year round mad. There is now little trace of the intermediate stations and branches, but this album illustrates all of them in detail. From the swindon canal to its railway period, i take a walk round old town and talk about swindons past. Although mentioned in the domesday book of 1086, the small settlement only had a population of 1,198 in 1801, at the time of the first official census, slightly less than the neighbouring towns of wootton basset 1,244, cricklade 1,333 and considerably smaller. Its location to the north of the marlborough downs and on the southern end of the vale of white horse, with access to the river cole and others, made it suitable for use as farming land there have been settlements around the hill. Interesting information for oxford street, swindon, sn1. As well as weekly markets swindon has 4 annual fairs. A selection of books featuring sussex, southern england and the south downs region. John williams, 37 winifred street, swindon, sn3 1rt, united kingdom. Between 1841 and 1842, isambard kingdom brunels swindon works.
A fascinating tiny museum with interesting and knowledgeable staff who can show and tell you all about the fascinating local history of royal wootton bassett. Our photographs are a snapshot in time to record a buildings history. Wiltshire and swindon history centre the national archives. The quality of the buildings and their significance for railway. An nhs, that has not only boasted dentists and chiropodists but swimming pools and turkish baths as well. Libraries old town library swindon borough council. It is referred to in the 1086 domesday book as suindune, believed to be derived from the old english words swine and dun meaning pig hill or possibly sweyns hill, sweyn being a scandinavian name akin to sven and english swain, meaning a young man. The work represents the guardians of the new community. Search the library catalogue swindon borough council. It begins 2,000 years ago, charting the defining moments in time for old swindon, and goes to encompass.
Consequently, many of the buildings were listed and a photographic record was begun. Historical swindon then and now welcome to the swindonweb then and now gallery. The team turned professional in 1894 and joined the southern league which was founded in the same year. Exploring swindons culture an open conversation about this forum nationally speaking, swindon is often mentioned because it is the butt of a joke. Swindon local history in newsreel film clips this collection of archive newsreel film footage features a selection of film clips from swindon, wiltshire. Above shows cromwell street in the town centre during the 1900s.
A journey through swindon s history including the gwr railway works, the origins of old town, roman settlements, the car industry, dday and chiseldon camp. The population estimates for the uk, england and wales, scotland and northern ireland. The wiltshire family history society was founded in 1981 and aims to encourage the study of family history, including both wiltshire ancestry of people worldwide and the worldwide ancestry of wiltshire residents. Books in swindon results 1 20 of 149 switch to map. From its very beginnings the society has attempted to record the social history of the area as shown by the camera since the 1850s. Apply to history teaching jobs now hiring in swindon on. Archives home wiltshire and swindon history centre. Swindon, it seems, has had its very own take on the nhs for the last 150 years or so. Victorian railway engineering the decision of gooch and brunel to locate an engine house and works just to the north of swindon led to the creation of a sizeable engineering enterprise and a new settlement. It also shows the great variety of trains that have used the route and gives an insight into a modern industrial network.
Swindon engineman hardcover december 4, 2006 by gordon shurmer author. The club later added the angloitalian league cup winners cup to the 1969 honours, beating as roma 52 over two legs. Bbc wiltshire website, broadcasting house, 5658 prospect place, swindon, wilts, sn1 3rw telephone. User guides are available on the website to ensure users are well informed as to what to expect and what information they need to assist their search. The library catalogue contains the books, audiobooks and other items that are available to borrow from swindons libraries. The modern town of swindon is built on and around a hill that stands over 450 ft 140 m above sealevel, now known as swindon hill. On its eight miles of shelves are stored diaries, letters, books, maps, photographs, oral histories, and more, that connect wiltshire with local, national and international.
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