Richard Jefferies Museum is 100

Richard Jefferies is Museum 100. Or at least it’s 100 years this year since the erstwhile Swindon corporation bought the house and grounds that we know and love as the Richard Jefferies museum.

So last night was the annual RJ museum end-of-year bash to which I enjoyed an invitation. And what a mild and pleasant evening it was too.

And from this point I’m handing over to my chum Jason Spickett who runs the splendid (and useful!) Swindon from the Air Facebook page because he’d done a good FB post and I’m not one to re-invent the wheel. It’s edited for SEO purposes. The photographs are Jason’s too.

Party time

Yesterday evening was the end of year party at the Richard Jefferies Museum and I was lucky enough to get an invitation.

The Richard Jefferies museum crew hold the party every year to thank all those who volunteer at the museum. Or who help promote it, or one way or another, make it the success that it is. 

This year was all the more special it being 100 years since the old Swindon Corporation purchased the house and the grounds.

It was great to see our Mayor of Swindon Councillor Neil Hopkins, and Member of Parliament for South Swindon, Heidi Alexander. Both always give up so much time from their busy schedules to promote and support history and heritage causes across our town. 

Community garden

This year the volunteers have been super busy with the construction of the new community garden. Plus, they’ve been clearing an area nearby one which there are plans to construct a large standalone building. One to use for a wide range of community and educational projects. 

The RJ could also lease out such a building for events or building space. That would bring in money for the museum. Further, in the event of bad weather, it would provide the means for planned outdoor events to go ahead.

Speech, speech!

The speeches started with Dr Mike Pringle who is the volunteer director at the museum. He thanked everyone for coming out and went on to thank all those who volunteer. Or are directly or indirectly involved with the Richard Jefferies. 

Mike showed everyone a framed certificate that they’ve received for their hard work and effort to become an accredited museum. Then we were all told about another award that the museum has won. It’s a ‘Royal Horticultural Society and South West in Bloom 2026 It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’. And not any old award, this was for a wonderful result of Level 5 – Outstanding. 

Finally, Ian Hatch of the Freemasons Pleydell Lodge presented Mike with a cheque to the tune of £500 to go in the piggy bank towards the proposed building project.

Further speeches of support and well wishes came from the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dame Sarah Troughton.Swindon’s Mayor Cllr Neil Hopkins and South Swindon Member of Parliament Heidi Alexander. 

What’s next?

So, what’s ahead for the museum? Well, this year will be a hard act to follow, but Mike and the team at the Richard Jefferies are a super dedicated and hard-working bunch. IMHO, they’ll make excellent progress over the next year. I also think the events will be wonderful and the gardens are going to be fantastic. And, we hope, a great deal of progress made with the new building. 

Have a visit to their website or Facebook page to find out when they are open, and go along for a visit, you won’t be

disappointed.

See also – a plethora of Richard Jefferies related posts on this blog:

https://swindonian.me/category/sons-daughters-of-swindon/richard-jefferies/