Swindon Heritage Preservation

📣 Looking for a FREE and engaging activity this half-term? 👀 Visit Swindon's historic Railway Village and explore the Children's Heritage Story Trail. 👣🔍 Produced by Swindon Libraries & Information Services, the trail brings Hannah Dosanjh's book: 'A Railway Town called Swindon' to life. This really offers something for the whole family to enjoy together: Following the same route as the Works Heritage Trail, adults and children can both enjoy the same walk. This self-guided heritage trail is designed to bring books out into the streets. A fun, free way for families to explore Swindon’s Railway Village.

We're grateful for the incredible support at the Cricketers today! 🙌🏏✨ A heartfelt thank you to all visitors, residents and partners who joined us today for our tours and open doors event. #LotteryWeek #Works #Swindonworks #CricketersRestoration #Gratitude

The building is planned to house a community makerspace supporting unemployed people with disabilities and carers to learn professional sewing skills in order to work flexibly from home, run by charity Community Opportunity. This is planned for the ground floor, with other uses for the first and second floor above, such as artists' studios or flats. Funding has already been secured for the exterior refurbishment. The new grant will pay towards the interior refurbishment of the building. David Thackray, Chair of Mechanics' Institution Trust, said, "We are delighted to receive the funding from the Community Ownership Fund to progress the restoration of the building to make it suitable for accommodating Community Opportunity and also find other uses for the first and second floor spaces." Emma Snow, CEO, Community Opportunity, said, "This new funding will help us open our community makerspace to support local people in Swindon, supporting unemployed people with disabilities and carers to learn to sew professionally and start their own businesses. I have experience of unemployment due to a disability myself, and worked with other people in similar situations to pilot the makerspace project. For our first course intake, a virtual course during COVID lockdown, we were very oversubscribed and filled all our 100 course places within 2 days, so it shows there is a lot of demand. We needed to find a permanent home in order to support people longer term. The Cricketers is perfect as it is easy for people to travel to, and also close to Swindon's main shopping areas where people can sell their products." Councillor Matthew Courtliffe, Swindon Borough Council, said, "We are delighted that our partnership with Historic England through the Heritage Action Zone has attracted this much needed funding. This will not only restore this derelict building, but also help our community through providing employment opportunities for local people with disabilities and carers, who are most in need of support. Our long term plan is to refurbish all the derelict buildings in the Railway Village, including both the Cricketers and Swindon Mechanics' Institute."

Marking International Museum Day, we’re shining a light on one of Swindon’s most atmospheric heritage spaces, the Railway Village Museum at 34 Faringdon Road. Step through the doorway and you step back in time. This GWR worker’s cottage offers an immersive glimpse into Victorian domestic life in the heart of the Railway Village. Every room tells a story: the routines, traditions, sounds and smells that shaped everyday life for the families who helped build Swindon’s railway community. From the kitchen hearth to the front‑room table, the museum reveals how a Great Western Railway worker and their family lived, worked, cooked, washed and rested. The Railway Village Museum isn’t just a collection of objects. It’s a place where local history feels close enough to touch, where visitors of all ages can connect with the people who made Swindon what it is today. This International Museum Day, we celebrate the power of small museums to preserve big stories and the Railway Village Museum continues to do exactly that.

Set your alarms! ⏰ The Crafters De-stash Sale is TOMORROW! The tables are booked, the stashes are packed, and there are some absolute gems waiting to be found. Whether you’re into card making, knitting, sewing, or upcycling, this is your Saturday morning sorted. 📍 Location: Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square (SN1 5BP) 🕚 Time: Doors open at 11:00 AM – we finish at 1:00 PM! 💸 Entry: £2.00 at the door.

"Born within the sound of the factory hooter." 🚂💨 If you know exactly what that means, you won’t want to miss our upcoming talk. Next Thursday, 21 May, we welcome Colin Parsons for a personal journey into the heart of our town: Growing Up and Working in a Railway Town. This isn't just a list of dates and locomotives. It’s a look at the soul of Swindon, the routines, the community, and the memories of life shaped by the Great Western Railway. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a newcomer curious about your new home, Colin’s stories bring the Railway Village to life. When: Thursday 21 May | 7:30 PM Where: The Bakers’ Café, 16 Emlyn Square, SN1 5BN Cost: £5 for guests | FREE for SHP Full Members! See you there! .uk/all-events/growing-up-and-working-in-a-railway-town/

The parlour is looking pristine! ✨ Thank you to two of our incredible volunteers who have been working hard to refresh the parlour at The Railway Village Museum. Doesn't it look like Mr. and Mrs. GWR just stepped out for a moment? You can see their handiwork in person TOMORROW! Join us as we step back to c1901 to discover the sights, sounds, and even the smells of Victorian life in Swindon. The Details: 🕒 When: 13th May 3:00 PM (approx. 30-minute tour) 📍 Where: The Railway Village Museum ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Our tours only go ahead if we have bookings. You must book your spot now, via our website! 👇 Book your place here: .uk/all-events/railway-village-museum-tour-13th-may/ Come say hello, support our volunteers, and take a trip back in time! 🚂🕰️ #SwindonHeritage #RailwayVillage #VolunteerSpotlight #VictorianStyle #GWR #MuseumLife #SwindonEvents #LivingHistory

New week, new projects! 🧶✨ Is your craft room bursting at the seams, or are you looking for that perfect piece of vintage fabric to spark your next masterpiece? Join us this Saturday, 16th May for the Crafters De-stash Sale at Central Community Centre! From yarn and buttons to tools and textiles, give quality supplies a second life and save some pennies while you’re at it. 🌍♻️ When: Saturday 16th May | 11:00 – 13:00 Where: Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, SN1 5BP Entry: Just £2.00! Sellers: We still have a few tables left! At only £10 per table, it’s the perfect way to clear some space and meet fellow makers. Visit our website to grab your spot before they’re gone! 🎟️ .uk/all-events/crafters-de-stash-sale/ #SwindonCrafters #DeStash #SustainableCrafting #SwindonEvents #UKCrafters #SewingCommunity #KnittingAddict

📅 ON THIS DAY IN… 1904 The Swindon‑built locomotive “City of Truro” made history, becoming the first steam engine ever recorded at over 100 miles per hour. Built at Swindon Works in 1903, this elegant 4‑4‑0 locomotive was the 2,000th engine produced there, designed by George Jackson Churchward for the Great Western Railway’s City Class. On 9 May 1904, while hauling the Ocean Mails express from Plymouth to London Paddington, driver Clements and his crew achieved what was then thought impossible. Timed at 8.8 seconds between two quarter‑mile posts, the locomotive reached a speed calculated at 102.3 mph, a world‑changing moment in railway history. Though debated for decades, the feat cemented Swindon’s reputation as a centre of engineering excellence. The City of Truro wasn’t just fast, it was a symbol of innovation, craftsmanship, and ambition that defined the Great Western Railway.

For Local & Community History Month, we’re celebrating the Railway Village’s first public house, The Cricketers. Built in 1846, for the workers and families of the GWR Railway Village, the Cricketers Arms was once a lively cornerstone of community life. When it closed in 2015, the building fell silent, standing for years as a shadow of its former self. Today, after an extensive period of restoration, The Cricketers has been transformed into a new information and heritage hub. Its ground floor now offers vibrant, flexible spaces and facilities for private and community hire. This transformation has been made possible through funding from the UK Government, Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Travis Perkins. And this is only the beginning. Future phases will restore the first and second floors, creating new spaces for creativity, culture, commerce, and accommodation. The restoration of The Cricketers is more than a building project. It’s a powerful example of how heritage can unlock community pride, support local identity, and help shape a prosperous future for Swindon.

Step back in time this Wednesday (6 May) and experience life in Swindon around 1901. Join us at the Railway Village Museum, where a knowledgeable volunteer will guide you through our GWR worker’s cottage. In just 30 minutes, you’ll discover the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian community life and learn how a Great Western Railway worker and their family lived day to day in the heart of the Railway Village. 🕒 Tour starts at 3pm 📍 34 Faringdon Road, SN1 5BJ 💜 Free entry, please book online We’re running tours throughout May and June, so if you can’t make this one, explore our other events on our website. To find out more and book, please see our website with the link below: .uk/all-events/railway-village-museum-tour-6th-may/

📅 ON THIS DAY IN… 1855 The Mechanics’ Institute officially opened its doors, a landmark moment for the railway town and its workers. Designed by Edward Roberts and funded entirely by subscriptions from employees of the Great Western Railway, the Institute stood as a proud testament to self‑improvement and community spirit. The Institute became much more than bricks and mortar: it was a centre for education, health, and social life, offering classes, lectures, and even medical services long before the NHS. Its founding embodied the belief that knowledge and wellbeing should be accessible to all.