Francis Frith logo

The Francis Frith Collection Francis Frith

An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

Call: +44 (0)1722 716 376
Sign-in or Register
Contact Us
Trustpilot
Sign-in or Register
Delivery Info Help Contact Us
US ($)
Choose A Francis Frith Shop
 UK (£) For UK & International delivery US ($) For US/Canada delivery
Call +44 (0)1722 716376
0 Items: View Basket
Shopping Basket
Trustpilot
  1. Home
  2. Swindon
  3. Photos
  4. Swindon, Town Hall And Central Library c.1955

Swindon, Town Hall And Central Library c.1955
Photo ref: S254034
Made in Britain logo

Photo ref: S254034
Photo of Swindon, Town Hall And Central Library c.1955
All Photos
Previous
98 / 168
Next

More about this scene

Swindon adopted the Public Libraries Act in 1942, and its first public library opened in McIlroy's departmental store in Regent Street the following year. The library was later transferred to the former electricity showrooms in Regent Circus in 1946 (see photograph S254062, opposite). A new 'temporary' main lending library was built at the rear of the Town Hall and opened by the author Compton Mackenzie in March 1949. These buildings were given a face lift in the late 1960s, but Swindon is still waiting for a new permanent library.

Add to Album
What's an Album? Info
Share This Photo

Buy a Print

Unframed, Mounted, Framed and Canvas prints in a range of sizes and styles.

View Sizes & Prices

Create a Gift

Mug
On a Mug
Calendar
In a Calendar
Calendar
Multi-Photo Prints
In a
Multi-Photo Print
Tea Towel
Tea Towel
Cushion Covers
Cushion Cover
Cushion
Gift Card
Gift Card

A Selection of Memories from Swindon

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Swindon

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

Add a memory of this photo

New House.

My parents and I moved to Swindon in 1961 from Edmonton, London to a brand new three bedroom house ( think). My father worked at Pressed Steel were they made car body panels for Austin, and Morris, and I used to cycle halfway to the factory to meet him from work. I can well remember the bad winter of 1962/63, with snow till March. My mother was stuck in Princess Margarets Hospital, ( I think it was), having given birth ...see more
Contact Contributor
Read Comment 1
Added 22 March 2021

Clifton Street Annexe
Hi Anyone out there remember the Clifton Street School Annexe? I lived in Newburn Cres, not far away, in 1968-70, and went to school there. My Dad was a policeman and we lived in a police house next door to Jane Gresham who was friends with my sister. Mr Edwards was my favourite teacher, he was Welsh.On Wednesdays we had to go to the Clifton Street School proper for assembly.We had a young Welsh girl ...see more
Contact Contributor
Add Comment
Added 14 October 2016

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. In those post-war austerity days there was no problem getting a council house - in these austerity days, however, very, very few are being built despite a great need. I digress. But by the time I left Commonweal Grammar and ...see more
Contact Contributor
Add Comment
Added 18 March 2015

Bus To Park North
Used to get the bus to Park North around the corner on the left.
Swindon, the College 1961
Read Comment 1
Added 24 January 2015

More about Image Optimisation

All our photos are printed as optimised versions of their originals, this process can take anything from 15 minutes to several hours. This ensures that the product you get shows the true quality that Frith photos are renowned for.

Example of image retouching:

Before
After

Genealogy & Research Images

Despite over 20 years’ work on the archive, these scans have still not been individually checked and may prove to be damaged, faded, or not of sufficient quality to ever be offered in our full product range. However, if you would particularly like to buy one of these please get in touch quoting the Frith negative number,(s) the town name and size of print you would like to buy. On receipt of your enquiry our archivist will check the scan and advise you if the quality is good enough.

What is an Album?

An album is a way to save a selection of Frith photos, maps and memories that are of interest to you.

Creating an Album enables you to make short lists and then make a final selection from the album. In particular it makes ordering things like calendars much easier - simply create an Album of the 12 photos you like and then use the Album when placng your order - our order process will give you this option.

You can create as many Albums as you want, so perhaps make one for your hometown, where you live now, where your parents live now etc.