New Zealand in Wiltshire. Well, as know, the prime focus of this blog is Swindon and the borough. But – now and again I see no harm in spreading the blog’s virtual wings once in a while and going beyond the borough. This time, thanks to my occasional guest blogger, Rebecca Davies, we’re visiting New Zealand. But not the one in the Pacific I’m sad to say.
Anyway – here we go with Rebecca’s New Zealand in Wiltshire story.
Introduction
A friend from New Zealand (the ‘proper’ one) came to stay for a day away from London. She’d explored Scotland quite a bit – she has ancestors from Mull. But she wanted to see some part of England that was not London.
(Alice doesn’t like the capital at all but was busy viewing Māori artefacts in the British museum and the V&A).
So I took her to see Wiltshire. But as it happens, we did not see much of Wiltshire at all, as she was busy cruising the charity shop scene. Well, it was Alice’s trip, and I like charity shops too. So …that’s what we did. But we had to stop off at a place just south of Lyneham… see below. This gave Alice quite the laugh. (Oh yes, and me too, not the most photogenic person in the county…)
New Zealand Farm Camp in Wiltshire – Rebecca and Alice at the New Zealand Farm cottage
So – I hear you ask – why has this part of Wiltshire got such an odd name? Well, this is a name for the remote part of the parish, given because it is well known to be a long, way away. Scotland and Ireland are similar names. Note, There is a Scotland in Wiltshire, an Ireland too, at North Bradley, just south of Chippenham. But, after a bit of research, what I found was a little different. Our New Zealand is, most likely, named for a British politician by the name of John Dickson-Poynder. As this Wiltshire Live article explains, he was the governor of New Zealand in 1910-12 – but also whose family seat was the nearby Hilmarton estate.
Now, I’ve have always associated in my mind New Zealand and Goatacre with Lynham, but actually it is part of Hilmarton parish. There is quite a bit of nice architecture in Hilmarton, built by the Poynder family, often including their crest. though we did not explore that village.
Below is Hilmarton School – isn’t that England’s classiest small school?
Hilmarton school
Here’s Hilmarton Well ….
… being dressed for Hallowe’en.
Hilmarton well being dressed for Hallowe’en
And now a Grotesque on a church – in contrast to a gargoyle – grotesque’s don’t channel water.
A grotesque on a church
Before I get distracted there are other New Zealands in Wiltshire. New Zealand farm camp, pictured above, is one I know. Tom Plant of the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre says there are several.
As I suspected, these are both recent place names, neither are on the famous Andrews and Dury map of 1773.
And finally …
… while we’re talking all things NZ, I must mention the Kiwi chalk figure above Bulford Camp. As the Historic England website tells us this is: ‘A chalk hill figure of 1919 depicting a kiwi bird on the downland above Bulford Camp. It was created by New Zealand troops following the end of the First World War.’
‘The chalk figure of a kiwi bird was created in the hillside above Sling Camp, on the edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, by New Zealand troops awaiting demobilisation following the end of the First World War in 1919. Sling Camp was the principal training depot for New Zealanders in England prior to their deployment to the Front. Although designed to accommodate 4,000 men, by September 1917 the camp was holding 4,500.’
New Furniture Store for Swindon. A new furniture store has opened its doors at The Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon, bringing an empty unit back to life.
Home Clearance Outlet specialises in affordable ranges of furniture. And they’ve taken over the old Poundland site, that closed in May last year.
The store, in the 6,000 square-foot unit, features a wide range of sofas and chairs. They range from smaller suites right up to cinema sets. All brand new, and sourced from suppliers around the UK. It also sells beds (including divans and ottoman beds) and mattresses.
This is the third store for the Home Clearance Outlet company. It marks an exciting expansion chapter for the retailer, which also has branches in Telford and Gloucester.
New Furniture Store for Swindon – the home clearance outlet in Swindon town centre
Tim Knowles, Managing Director at FI Real Estate Management, said: ‘This is another good news story for the town centre and the local community. The team at The Brunel Centre are continuing to focus on retailers that add value and choice to the shopping experience for visitors. And Home Clearance is another great addition that complements our existing retail partners.’
Holiday Club Half-Term Bookings Open. Swindon based Just for Fun Holiday Club has opened bookings for its February half-term holiday camps. They’re offering Ofsted registered childcare for families during the school holidays.
The club supports children aged four to twelve. It provides full-day holiday camps designed to give parents reliable cover while children enjoy active, creative and structured days.
Co-founder Sean Harper said February half-term comes around fast once families are back into routine after Christmas. He said having plans in place early helps take the pressure off. ‘Parents want to know their children are somewhere safe, busy and happy while they’re at work,’ Sean said. He said having plans in place early helps take the pressure off. ‘Parents want to know their children are somewhere safe, busy and happy while they’re at work,’ Sean said.
The February programme follows a busy Christmas period for the club, which also marked the launch of its newest venue at Dorcan Leisure Centre.
Holiday Club Half-Term Bookings Open – a Just For Fun Holiday Club leader supporting a child during one of the swimming sessions at the Dorcan venue.
Strong start for the new site
Sean said the new site had a strong start, attracting lots of new families over the festive period. ‘Dorcan was a great success over the Christmas period,’ he said.
‘We had lots of new faces joining us for the first time. Children fed back that they loved using the swimming pool and the centre’s inflatable obstacle course.’
More than 20 children attended on each of the Christmas dates. Sean said that was a strong result for a new venue launching so close to the holidays.
Feedback from parents echoed that response. One parent, Denise Woodger, said ‘My son attended Dorcan at the Christmas 2025 holiday club. He so enjoyed it and loved swimming and the inflatable. He will only come to the Just for Fun clubs.’
Timings
Camps run from 8am, with late collection available until 5.30pm, offering flexibility for working families across the week.
Children attending can expect a varied programme including:
sports
arts and crafts
team games and creative sessions.
Swimming and cycling are also available at selected venues. Sessions are delivered by a team that includes sports coaches, dance specialists, primary teachers and teaching assistants.
Sean said variety is key to keeping children engaged. ‘Some children want to be active all day, others prefer creative or quieter sessions,’ he said. ‘We plan the days so everyone feels included and has something they enjoy.’
The camps cost £19.99 per day, with sibling discounts available. Families can also choose a freshly-prepared camp lunch, made on site, for those who would rather not worry about packed lunches.
JFF Holiday Club runs Ofsted registered holiday camps for children aged four to twelve across Swindon. The club operates across six venues including:
Dorcan Leisure Centre
Moredon Sporting Hub
Holy Cross
Goddard Park and two school-based sites, providing full-day childcare during school holidays.
SOCIAL CARE EXPERT GUEST SPEAKER AT ‘END OF LIFE’ CARE EVENT.
Janet Shreeve, founder of Shreeve Care Services, is a guest speaker at an event hosted by the social enterprise, Co Produce Care. And she’s going to urging families to have open conversations about end of life care. And to do it before it becomes an urgent necessity.
The webinar ‘Prepared Not Scared: The Essential Conversation About Death & Dying’ will take place online between 10.30am and 1.30pm. That’s on Tuesday February 3. It’ll bring together professionals from across the care, legal and financial sectors. It’s aim to help individuals and families understand why planning ahead is essential.
Also taking part
Joining Janet ‘on stage’ will be:
Sophie Chester Glyn of Coproduce Care
Heledd Wyn of Rothley Law
Lisa McLaren of Barrie Bookkeeping
James Morrey from the Office of the Public Guardian.
The session will focus on the importance of discussing end of life wishes early. The need to do it while people are well and able to make considered decisions together. It will address the fact that many families avoid conversations about death or serious illness. All too often leaving the making of decisions for during the worst times of stress or crisis.
SOCIAL CARE EXPERT GUEST SPEAKER – Janet Shreeve
Talk-talk – or not
Janet Shreeve said: ‘We’re not very good as a nation at talking about death or illness, but putting these conversations off rarely helps. When families take the time to talk about end of life care early, it gives everyone clarity, reassurance and a sense of control long before difficult situations arise.’
During the webinar, Janet will talk through the different types of care that may be available, including live-in care, care homes and hospice care. She’ll explain what each option involves and why understanding these choices in advance can make a significant difference to this difficult experience for both individuals and their families.
A key topic will be personal preference, including whether someone would wish to remain at home if end of life care becomes necessary. The discussion will also highlight the importance of having legal and practical arrangements in place. Thus ensuring that wishes recorded and understood.
End of life planning does not need to be frightening,’ Janet said. ‘Once people understand the options available to them and have the right legal and practical conversations, fear often turns into confidence. My message is simple: don’t be afraid to talk about it.’
Shreeve Care Services provides guidance and support to individuals and families navigating later life and complex care decisions.
The February 3 webinar aims to empower families with knowledge. Thus helping them to plan ahead with confidence and compassion. Anyone can attend by booking here – https://bit.ly/4t0XafX
High Street Old Town – another instalment in the Swindon in 25 Streets project. This time, a street that used to be the main shopping destination in Old Swindon – what we now know as Old Town.
High Street Old Town – pic shows the Goddard Arms and the bell on the Old Bell Inn.
What’s in a name?
Before talking about the high street in Swindon’s Old Town it’s worthwhile examining the term itself. It’s been used for centuries now, as a descriptor for a town or village’s main thoroughfare. Indeed, some quarters report it as first appearing in the 12th century when the term high served to signal superior rank or importance. Thus, for example, a High Church, is one that puts emphasis on elaborate rituals, sacraments, vestments and so on. That’s in contrast with Low Church – characterized by simpler worship.
As for Old Town’s high street, Peter Sheldon in A Century of Swindon states it as being first known in 1581. There’s another explanation though for this Old Town street’s moniker. It could as easily derive from the street’s actual, physical height. A theory given weight by the fact that, during the 13th century, Old Swindon went by the name High Swindon.
Further to this claim to the name, Mark Child’s Swindon Book, states that, in the 14th century inhabitants knew the settlement as Hegherswyndon (High Swindon) because of its location. Compelling evidence. Mark Child backs up Peter Sheldon’s 1581 statement, adding that it appears in manorial records from 1615.
Becoming a shopping centre
Mark Child goes on to say that shops began being mentioned from the early 1700s, with Swindon’s first-named grocer’s shop being started here in 1705, by Robert and Margaret Boxwell. Their premises became part of The Bull Inn – later incorporated into Mason’s grocery store.
Meanwhile, High Street experienced a gradual build-up of small traders and cottage industries.
1807 saw a bank established. For the most part this would have been to facilitate the needs of market traders. And of course, the street had taken on more trade. Old Swindon residents in the 1820s enjoyed the services of a baker, basket maker, two blacksmiths, a butcher, a carpenter, drapers, dressmakers, hairdressers and an ironmonger.
Professionals also were now making a living in Old Swindon’s High Street. The town boasted John and Joseph Gay, the sibling surgeons, Jonah Reeve – auctioneer, and Charles Rose the postmaster.
It’s unsurprising to note that, thanks to the proximity of the High Street to Lawn, the Goddard estate, it attracted to it the gentry and business people of means. Thus it was that, by 1870, High Street had become Old Swindon’s main shopping destination. Among the usual suspects of grocers and butchers and drapers the busy retail thoroughfare also boasted tailors and outfitters, a fishmonger a chemist and a wine merchant. Not to mention being a favoured location for auctioneers and solicitors. Indeed, in the latter case, it still is. Frances George, solicitor advocate, has his office on High Street.
High Street today
Stand on High Street now, looking south towards Marlborough Road and you’re on a section of the street changed beyond all recognition. 1969-70 saw road widening and car park construction sweep away anything much of interest. The HSBC bank complex and its car park now cover it. And whether any of it should have happened in a conservation area is a moot point.
In her Blipfoto blog about Old Town’s High Street, Swindonian Maureen Iles writes about a case in point. As a young woman she worked for the Vauxhall motor dealer, Skurray’s who had premises, in the form of a mock Tudor showroom, on the corner of High Street/Newport Street. Maureen writes that 1971 saw this showroom demolished (by Vauxhall) to make way for, what she describes as ‘a concrete and glass monstrosity’. Only for it to meet the wrecking ball itself a mere thirteen years later.
The site now houses the large Co-op complex, outside which you’ll find the High Street, street sign.
Now, I’m not against modern architecture. In fact, I like a lot of it. But I’m not a fan at all of pastiche such as mock Tudor. But, look at this Local Studies Flickr image of the original 1930s built Skurray’s showroom. Despite my personal lack of love for pastiche, the loss of this does seem a shame. And this mock Tudor is so much better done than that round my estate. #JustSaying
Swindon local studies image of Skurray’s Vauxhall showroom on High Street in the 1930s?
Looking north, the picture is less bleak. On the left we still have the Bell Inn, bearing, under the bell, the inscription ‘Established in ye reygn of Kyng Henry VIII AD 1515’. The inn served as departure point for the tri-weekly coach to London and, in the 1830s, as a post office.
Across the road is The Goddard Arms. An inn stood on this site for 400 years. Known as The Crown until approx. 1810, it was renamed in honour of the Goddard family, the lords of the manor of High Swindon. The inn served as Swindon’s magistrates court until the 1852 building of the town hall on Market Square. It also did duty as the location of the first Meeting of the Royal Sussex Lodge on May 1st 1818 – and a blue plaque commemorates the fact. Find out more about that here: https://www.swindonheritageblueplaques.com/masonic.html
On the same side as the Goddard Arms, marking the entrance to the Lawn park, erstwhile stomping ground of the Goddard clan, are early 19th century gate piers and stone walls. Beyond those gate piers, hiding in plain sight, is Lawn park – erstwhile estate of the Goddard family.
I will be getting images of my own. In the meantime this photo collage from Maureen Iles’ Blipfoto will serve to give a flavour of this historic street.
Collage of High Street Old Town images by Maureen Iles
