Swindon memories
Here are memories of Swindon and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Swindon or a Swindon photo.
Burderop Park
I was stationed there 1955 to 1956. Met my wife in Swindon.
The Congregational Church Bath Road Corner
My great-grandfather Joseph Williams, a Swindon builder, built this church in 1886. Joseph and his wife Sarah were also heavily involved in the services at this church. Joseph was a lay preacher and was the Sunday School superintendent for a number of years. The church was demolished in 1949. The congregation since moved to a more modern building in Swindon.
Coate Water.
I remember swimming in Coate Water aged about 8 - 10 and nearly drowning in the open air swimming pool. My cousin fell into the lake when he was about three but was rescued by my uncle who leapt in to get him out. The diving board in the picture seemed enormous to me and I was impressed by the people who dived from the top. I love Richard Jeffries books and have several which I treasure. I am now aged 73.
I went to Holy Rood Catholic Primary School for two years travelling by bus from Ashbury each school day the fare was 11d return.
Family Tree
I am researching my fam tree. I have found out some of my ancestors came from Swindon. Due to a long story my Grandmothers biological Grandfather worked on the G.W.R AS A Labourer his name was Edwin New. He married Mary Jane Stroud in 1873 then went on to have my Grandmother Real mother Alice Elizabeth New. Alice was born on the 10th March 1884 at Lower stratton.
I wondered if any one out there knows of these name above. My grandmother was born in a mother and baby hospital in Hackney for unmarried mother on the 24th July 1906. I found the details out with the help of the Salvation Army her real mothers name was given as Alice Elizabeth New as i gave above. does any one know of this situation or is any one connected to the families of the above.
Please get in touch be mos t greatfull
Mother.
My mother worked in the cafeteria at lunch time, collecting the money from the students. She seemed to know everybody in the college and when she passed away at the young age of 48, it seemed that the whole of Swindon mourned with us. Swindon is a place that I hold dear to my heart. Every picture that I have looked at today brings back wounderful memories of a town that I still call home even though I live overseas.
Farewell Rail Tour
The picture is taken from the footbridge and show the rail tour on about 3/9/61. There were two. This one is the one I travelled on hauled by GWR 2-6-0 5306. I rode on the footplate of the engine from here to Cirencester. The other one was hauled by 7808 Cookham Manor.
Ducks
I remember when I was little going to Coate water, feeding the ducks and having picnics with my family. Those were the days! :)
My Home Town
I'm a Pinehurst boy infants' juniors and seniors before moving on to Headlands as the first of the Comprehensive pupils. But firstly I'm from Pinehurst and proud of it. I lived with my Mum and Gran in Hawthorne Avenue until my dad left the Navy then we lived in Maple Grove, we then had the fish and chip shop on the Circle before moving back to the prefabs, again in the Circle. My parent still live in Liddington Street, my mum never moving any further than 1/2 mile from where she was born 78 years ago. Looking back we were a bit naughty, raiding the allotments for rhubarb, lazing in the sun in Pinehurst rec, bike rides Savernake Forest, and Avebury, my parent were not too pleased with that but never seemed to mind me riding to Lechlade to swim. I remember Mrs Beattie from the infants, Mr Secret, Jaspar Anfuso and of course old Bill Bryant. I remember the stick, the dap, the flying blackboard... Read more
Penhill Estate
Born in 1951, I lived in Lechlade, Ledbury, Highworth, Oldtown, Cunningham Road and I lived on Penhill Drive in the late 1950s.
Penhill
Born in 1951, I lived in Lechlade,Ledbury, Highworth, Oldtown, Cunningham Road and I lived on Penhill Drive in the late 1950s, I went to the infants and junior school. In the infants we learned to count by using small stones kept in a tobacco tin (I kid you not), our classrooms were in portakabins with steps leading up to them. Long since gone!
I remember going to the Penhill library, where I saw my first moving picture.
I went to first aid lessons with the Red Cross, the only thing I can remember is a greenstick fracture, which is a partial fracture of a bone.
I used to go to the “dumps” to play, I remember using the roundabout in the children's area, that's where I discovered I didn't like going round and round! The place is now a high rise area now!
The Secondary Modern school was on 621, Cricklade Road (it's called St Lukes Special School now). I also went to temporarily to... Read more
Penhill Junior School
Hi, long time ago when time had more meaning the teachers were pleasant and we used to have stars put on the work for good standard ,and smaller classes than today, as at the time I lived in Penhill Drive, my headmaster was a Mr R West used to drive a Morris 1000, at the time the ice cream van used to have such friendly tone and kids used to line up for the treats, where have these days gone as next month I I celebrate my 58th birthday and look back on these times, during my time in Penhill when school had finished, we walked home and my Dad had Bond mini car and I used to wait for him coming home from work, it had such a unusual sound and you could hear the tone of the engine from quite a long way. We did not have computers or other fancy things to help you do the work, just pen and paper, but life was not so strained... Read more
It Was Nearly A
My Dad was a copper and one day took me to the Gorse Hill Police Station where he was based. He and the duty sergeant muttered away quietly hatching a plan to surprise me.
The sergeant took me on a tour of the building, eventually taking me down into the depths to see the cells. He was explaing how policeing had changed over years with Bow Street Runners, Peelers and so on. Eventually he asked if I was brave so, of course, I said yes. He told me to close my eyes and let him guide me into an adventure. At the age of 10 how could I not go on with the fun? I was guided through a door and made to bend forward a little.
Then it happened, my neck was on some hard surface, as were my hands, I heard a laugh as something came down onto me from above. I was in the pillory, the sergeant then offered me the stocks as a next... Read more
School
Highworth Warneford School is a very good school in Swindon.
I have lots of good memories here and will be sad to leave :(
Jaz
xxx
Memories of Wiltshire
Fish And Chip Shop High Street (1965-1971)
My parents (Mr C and Mrs P Gosling) used to own a fish and chip shop for 6 years. I have a fantastic memory growing up with my 6 brothers and sisters in that big house (please see photo). It had 14 rooms (including the cellar). The house was haunted and it didn't bother me and my family at all. We all loved this house so much that we didn't want to leave. We were very upset and very sad that we had to leave the house which my parents sold the house and a shop to Mr Haddock from Highworth. My parents bought a restaurant/cafe in Gloucester from (1971 -1980). The house was very special to me. I am wondering what does the house look like inside today? Is there a book for information about the house I can buy?
Old Dick's Bakery
We were brought up in Wroughton and my dad worked at Burderop hospital as a nurse in the 1970s to the very early 1980s. We had a staff house in the grounds of the hospital. I have so many happy childhood memories of being brought up there and going to school in the village. One of the most vivid and enjoyable was that I used to love going down the hill with Dad in the car to get our bread from Old Dick's bakery, the smell of the shop, the shelves with his just-baked goods on it and the rustle of the tissue paper as the bread was wrapped up and most of all sitting with it still warm and fresh from the oven on my knee going back home in the car, being told not to pick at it (impossible not to, and I still love fresh baked bread to this day, it has to be crusty though just like Old Dick's!). I remember going to the infant... Read more
Dick Preddy's Bakery
When I was at the grammar school in Swindon, I used to catch the Hawkins bus at The Three Tuns. On the way, I would go into the Bakery for a hot roll from the real fire oven. The 'shop' was in the Bakery adjacent to the ovens and was nice and warm on a cold day. Fred Morse, who worked there, used to let me get rolls out of the oven with a long pole like a spade (Health and Safety!) and I would clutch my roll (piping hot) in my hands on the way to the bus stop.
Village Life1952
thi8s is dawn downey from brisbane australia,have been living here for 38 years and still treasure memories of my school days in wroughton .My sister virginia still lives there.If anyone sees this ,let ginny know...Remember the old school by the moat,miss morgan was our teacher,,,happy days,,we then moved to chiseldon
Priors Hill
We as a family (the Olleys) lived for the first 14 years of my life on Priors Hill. I remeber having to go to Jackson's shop and Dick Preddy's for shopping, bread for my mum - a collie dog used to chase me every time down bakers road - I used to peddle my bike like the clappers and he never caught me!! I remember running down Priors Hill through the weir field then down Inverary Road to school once, when I got there the teacher said my fringe had frosted. I remember looking after Dylan the guinea pig from the junior school for the summer holidays, playing over the fields and Clouts Wood, buying sweets from the Swan and Brown Jack off licence (no corner shop open at night then). In the High Streett there was the old Co-op with metal bars to slide your basket along, Goslings -hair dressers, Mr Woolfords - chemist. I enjoyed the summer fetes. I went to Brownies in the old hall and... Read more
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,909 memories of 5,955 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Battersea, Greater London
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire
- Burnopfield, Tyne and Wear
- Severn Beach, Avon
- Bath, Avon
- Sway, Hampshire
- Stanhope, County Durham
- Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan
- Fyfield, Essex
- Great Haywood, Staffordshire
- Pyrford, Surrey
- West Kirby, Merseyside
- Knaphill, Surrey
- Netherton, West Yorkshire
- Conicavel, Morayshire
- Delamere, Cheshire
- Dan Y Parc, Powys
- Irby, Merseyside
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
