St Mary’s Church Rodbourne – given a Grade II listing by Historic England in 1951. The British Listed Buildings website tells us that this is an Anglican parish church of C13, C19 and C20. Consecrated c.1250 although it looked much different then.
1848 saw it enlarged and restored.
As you can see from the photo, the church sits in a quite open situation on the northern side of the B4587. Pavements and grassy verges separated it from the road. A stone wall borders the graveyard and a gate at the western end gives access.
St Mary’s Church Rodbourne C13The interior of St Mary’s church at Rodbourne Cheney
Church history
No written record of a church in the 13th century exists. But, the present building has incorporated into it, two carved stones, thought to be Saxon. It’s probable that they came from a Saxon preaching cross. And further, were most likely, formed in the pattern known as ‘The Tree of Spiritual Life and Knowledge’. This would indicate the presence of an earlier place of worship on this site.
A replica of the saxon cross over the grave of a previous vicar, Rev E R Knapp, near the South door.
In 1324 the Church passed to the monastery at Hailes, Gloucestershire. From there, there came a sporadic and itinerant exercising of a ministry. As far as anyone knows, the main concern of the Glocs owners was one of extracting as much as they could from it. Following the dissolution of the monasteries during the Tudor period there came a hiatus in parish records.
The Parish
St Mary’s is the parish church for Rodbourne Cheney – once a village called Hreod Burna after the stream that runs through it. It later became Reedy-Bourne – but listed in the Domesday book as Redbourne.
John Aubrey wrote in around 1666: ‘In the reign of Edward, the Advowson was in possession of Ralf Le Chanu. He being the possessor of the manor, under Richard, Earl of Cornwall. On the death of Richard, the crown granted the Lordship and Advowson to Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Winchester. By whom, in 1323, the advowson and some lands were given to the monastery of Hales in Gloucestershire.’
The 1848 restoration
An 1845 description of the church’s nave put it as ‘much disfigured with hideous pews and galleries.’ And the south chapel was described as ‘damp, dirty and disused’.
An appeal, dated 5th May 1848, stated that Rodbourne Cheney’s population had much increased. Much thanks there to its vicinity to the railway station of Swindon’s new town. At that time, part of the church was regarded as being in a dangerous state. And the whole in a dilapidated condition.
In order to achieve that, and to meet the needs of the growing population, it was felt necessary to lengthen the nave and build another aisle. The consensus was, that this would enable the church to afford comfortable sittings for 434 persons. Rather than indifferent accommodation for 246.
The estimated cost of the work hit £1500. Though even before the launch of the appeal the parish had itself raised £500 – quite an achievement. Before the year ended they’d raised the money and got the church hallowed.
The restored and enlarged church featured the commodious north aisle and west tower with Norman and Saxon stones built into it. All serving as the abiding evidence of the unbroken succession of Christian worship on the site for over 1000 years.
Museum and Art Swindon. ‘O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!‘ It’s open again! In the civic offices on Euclid Street, just about in the town centre. It’s not far from the train station and Regent Circus is a spit of a distance across the road.
Museum and Art Swindon – the entrance to the civic offices that houses the art and artefacts
It’s a good four years since our beloved Swindon museum and art gallery in Old Town’s Apsley House closed. Well it didn’t so much close as wasn’t reopened, post Covid restrictions, by the previous (Conservative) borough council administration. But now, thanks to herculean and heroic efforts by the incoming (2023) Labour council and council and museum staff our art and artefacts are returned to us.
Rebranded
It’s rebranded as Museum and Art Swindon and located on the unused top floor of the under-appreciated Art Deco glory of the civic offices*.
The new logo
What’s more it’s bigger and brighter and better in oh so many ways than it was before. Apsley House, as lovely as it was, wasn’t ever adequate. And had become less and less so as the years passed. They’ve installed a lift here so it’s accessible. And there are toilets on the museum floor too, so no need to go all the way back down for purposes of relieving oneself.
As you enter the museum area you go into the shop area – some quality merch I gotta say! I bought a fridge magnet and splashed out on a cushion that features a painting in the collection by Desmond Morris. Lord knows I’ve got enough cushions to stock Dunelm but I just love it.
Appreciating that SBC had at their disposal a packet of Blu-Tak, a roll of Sellotape, a ball of string and 10 shillings raided from someone’s piggy bank, with which to bring this project forward, great expectations I did not have. Water into wine I did not expect. As for a silk purse from a sow’s ear – nah.
But – on getting a preview of it a few months ago, and despite my inability to visualize things, my expectations rose a little. Now I’ve seen it? Well – what they’ve done with it has exceeded my expectations by miles. A feeling shared by many others I know. It’s little short of a miracle I’d say.
It boasts a lovely area for children – a taster below. That was something that Apsley House simply didn’t have. And there are other interactive bits throughout the museum. It’s well thought out.
There’s a lot to see there – and I could stuff this post with so many photos that it would take hours to load so I’ll pretty much leave it here bar two or three things.
3. Refreshment opportunities – there aren’t any. And, as soon as it’s at all possible, SBC need to address this. If they want MAAS to be a destination (and one assumes they do) then a place of refreshment is VITAL. #JUSTSAYING And it needs to be decent – the cafe at STEAM is, to be frank, bloody awful.
That chunter aside – kudos and thanks to everyone that made this happen! It feels soooooo good to have it back.
Opening hours and location
Museum and Art Swindon is inside the civic offices. The full address is Euclid Street, SN1 2JH
Tuesday to Saturday 10:30am to 4:30pm Monday and Sunday Closed.
The Friends of Museum and Art Swindon (FMAS) is a voluntary organisation. It promotes and publicises Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and its activities to as wide a public as possible. It raises funds to buy new items for the museum and encourages sponsorship for the improvement of the collections and facilities.
FMAS are dedicated to the development, maintenance and enhancement of the best possible museum and art gallery for Swindon. Something that’s for the benefit of both Swindon residents and visitors from elsewhere. We act as local champions, providing input to management and ensuring formal community involvement in Council decision-making.
And finally – related to the living, breathing Poirot set that is the civic offices:
Pipp & Co Open Cafe. Yes, That’s right. Far from getting the pip, the artisan doughnut manufacturer whose production and turnover has increased by almost 700 per cent in less than ten years, is branching out into café ownership.
Pipp & Co produces more than 20,000 doughnuts a week from its Swindon factory. And now they’ve opened their first café, in Bristol, investing in refitting an empty commercial unit in College Green. The café will be the first in a series, with plans for outlets in other locations in the future.
Mario and Betina Evangelista bought the company in 2015. They’ve grown it from a small bakery selling, in the main, at farmers’ markets, into a £1.3m turnover business employing 30 people. The new café is creating a further eight roles.
Pipp & Co Open Cafe – Mario and Betina Evangelista at the new Pipp & Co cafe in Bristol
Made from scratch
Pipp & Co make all the doughnuts from scratch at the Swindon factory, using quality raw ingredients, sourced where possible in the locality. There are no artificial colourings, flavourings or additives. They’ve designed their fresh-baked doughnuts for eating on the day they’re bought.
‘It was a very different business when we bought it,’ said Betina. “It had been set up by two patisserie chefs, who were mainly selling into farmers’ markets. We still sell our doughnuts at farmers’ markets and many of these we have been visiting for years. We have a great and loyal customer base, there is a very special atmosphere, and we love visiting the markets.
Business growth
‘We have though expanded and now also have a lot of stockists, including farm shops and cafes. A big part of our business is selling to corporates, through running regular popup shops and by stocking staff restaurants. We’ve always stayed true to the original founders’ passion for creating a quality product. One made from quality ingredients, with nothing artificial.’
Mario added: ‘Betina and I had been in the food business when we were much younger, running a small restaurant for a couple of years. Life then took us on a different path. But the passion for good food stayed with us and as our children got a bit older, we were looking for an opportunity. By chance we came across the doughnut business at a farmers’ market with a massive queue and we thought we had to try some of those doughnuts. We bought the business, and the rest is history.’
From 2,500 doughnuts a week in 2015, Pipp & Co (formerly called Pippin & Co) is now making 20,000 a week on average. They’ve expanded the range to include cinnamon rolls and cruffins – a croissant/muffin cross.
Relocation
In 2022, the business relocated from its original production unit to much larger premises in Swindon. That gave it capacity to upscale and produce new lines, with a large investment in fittings and new equipment.
The fresh food served at the Bristol café is made by Pipp & Co. As well as doughnuts there is a range of savoury pastries and new sweet bakes.
Mario said: ‘If Bristol is successful, and it’s our belief it will be, we have plans to open more cafes in other locations.’
Pipp & Co also recently launched a coffee and doughnut van. It visits business and industrial parks. You can book it for corporate events, weddings and sporting fixtures.
The doughnuts and other products are available through stockists from Reading to Oxford, and from Stroud to Bristol. For more information visit https://www.pipp.co/
Athelstan Dig Sites Revealed. DETAILS of thirteen sites where archaeological digs will take place this coming weekend in Malmesbury are revealed as Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig begins. Three other sites of archaeological interest will also be open to visit.
Archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology will be in Malmesbury preparing the various test pit sites for excavation later this week. They’ll have the support of students from Malmesbury School. They’ll be learning about the skills and discipline of a dig, the finding, preservation and recording of finds.
Each site will be open to the public from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday (July 6 & 7). The sites with digs taking place with test pits of around a metre square each are:
Latch Cottage, Holloway
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
St Aldhelm’s Church
Roundmead House, off St John’s Street
30 Roundmead, off St John’s Street
2 Parliament Row
Memorial Gates at St Aldhelm’s Mead
79 High Street
Tangled Garden, King’s Walk
Westgate Cottage, Gloucester Street
33a Burnivale
West Lodge, Bristol Street
United Reformed Church, St Mary’s Street
You can also visit three other significant places in the town:
St. Helen’s Chapel on Bristol Street
St. Mary’s Hall at The Triangle and
Abbey House Manor.
Volunteers
Volunteer archaeologists will be on hand at Abbey House Manor to help explain a previously excavated profile. They’ll also explain the development of the area around the abbey and the wider landscape around Malmesbury.
Cllr Kim Power who heads up the Athelstan 1100 Big Dig Team, said:
‘This is going to be a fun event for all. We hope to see lots of visitors to the ‘Big Athelstan Dig’ weekend as uncovering the past is always thrilling! Visitors will be excited to see such a variety of sites, some of which are not usually open to the public. We’re hoping for some interesting finds. And we know that the ‘Big Athelstan Dig’ is going to inspire more people to become interested in the history of the place where they live. We could even find King Athelstan himself!
‘We’ve been working in partnership with Cotswold Archaeology to organise this weekend. Some of their archaeologists are local to Malmesbury and are very enthusiastic. We’ve also had a huge number of volunteers come forward. They want to experience digging a test pit or clean and record finds. Volunteers include young people and students from YAC and Malmesbury School.’During the weekend there’ll be volunteers at most site excavating a test pit supervised by Cotswold Archaeology. And there’ll be a ‘Finds Centre’ at Malmesbury Town Hall. There, finds will get cleaned and recorded by more volunteers supervised by an expert from Cotswold Archaeology. It’s hoped they’ll be able to identify the finds. All of which will be open to the public
Athelstan Dig Sites Revealed Cllr Campbell Ritchie, Cllr Kim Power and Mike Westmacott, of the Warden and Freemen, one of the organisations supporting the Big Athelstan Dig.
Cotswold Archeology
Cotswold Archaeology are also bringing along some Anglo Saxon ‘handling finds’ from other sites for visitors to see and hold.
One person hosting a dig on her property is Lisa Tweedie of West Lodge in Bristol Road. She said: ‘I’m looking forward to the dig. I’m hoping we find some exciting evidence of “The Light”. That was an old Temperance coaching inn here on the road between Malmesbury and Bristol.’
There’ll also be interesting activities for children including at St, Mary’s Hall. The 1st Malmesbury King Athelstan Scouting group are organising a seeded tray event for ‘play’ excavation. And the Chippenham and District Metal Detecting Club, are also creating seeded trays for children to try their hand at metal detecting finds at Cuckingstool Mead. St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School will be showcasing some Anglo Saxon related activities.
On Sunday, Time Team presenter and archaeologist Phil Harding will visit the dig sites and the Finds Centre at the Town Hall. He’ll be talking to volunteers about their finds and their experiences over the weekend.
A wide programme
The Big Athelstan Dig is part of a wider programme of events to mark 1100 years since the accession of King Athelstan, later to become First King of all England. Athelstan had a close relationship with Malmesbury and selected the abbey as his buriel place. Although the exact location of his burial remains a mystery.
Many Malmesbury organisations are working together to bring the Athelstan 1100 project to life across the summer. They include:
Malmesbury Town Team
Malmesbury Town Council
Athelstan Museum
and more than 80 other organisations and businesses. All of whom who are giving time, practical support and resources to help celebrate the Anglo-Saxon heritage of the town and this important national anniversary.
The first weekend saw a series of packed events including:
Live performance at the Abbey
The unveiling of the Athelstan Stone …
… and the opening of the Athelstan Pilgrim Way by historian and King Athelstan expert Tom Holland. He’s also known as a co-presenter of the world’s most popular history podcast The Rest Is History.
Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig weekend opens with a talk by historian and broadcaster Michael Wood OBE. He’s offering further reflections on ‘The Lost Life of Athelstan’.
Athelstan
King Athelstan ascended to the throne in 924 and 100 years ago in 1924 the whole of Malmesbury came out to celebrate King Athelstan’s 1000th anniversary. The community is doing the same in 2024.
Chair of Malmesbury Town Team, Campbell Ritchie heads up the team organising the project. He said:
‘Digging back to the time of Athelstan and our Anglo-Saxon past is exciting. But whatever we discover this weekend, we’ll be helping tell more of Malmesbury rich history. We’d like to thank:
All the property owners
Volunteers
The National Heritage Lottery Fund
Cotswold Archaeology …
… and local businesses and supporters for making Malmesbury’s Big Athelstan Dig possible.’
RPA Illuminates Swindon Paintfest. Revolution Performing Arts (RPA), is proud to present Street Lights. This is an innovative and collaborative show celebrating the creative impact of street art on young people.
This unique event highlights the transformative power of public art and its influence on the local youth community.
RPA Illuminates Swindon Paintfestwith their performance Streetlights
Swindon Paintfest
Founded in 2022 and organised by Artsite, a group of creatives creaated Swindon Paint Fest to:
Develop murals and public art …
… and creative events as part of Swindon’s regeneration and enhancement.
The 2023 festival saw great success. It drew hundreds of attendees and earned international recognition. Over fifty talented artists participated. Some travelled from as far as the United States and Spain. The festival featured workshops, exhibitions, and live painting. And it transformed many areas of Swindon with stunning street murals. This year’s event will take place in late August.
The festival aims to inspire the community and provide a platform for artists to showcase their talents.
About Streetlights
Street Lights features over 200 talented young performers from Swindon, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Each group has drawn inspiration from a specific piece of street art. The result is a diverse array of performances that include dance, theatre, and musical theatre. This creative process involved direct collaboration with the artists behind the murals. It further gave students a unique opportunity to delve deep into the world of street art.
To enhance the audience’s experience, the show will project each mural on stage before its corresponding performance. Thus providing context and highlighting the artistic inspiration behind the acts.
Level Up Theatre Company (RPA’s flagship drama collective) has crafted an overarching narrative to tie the performances together. There’ll be an original soundtrack punctuating the scenes. It’s composed by a group of RPA’s young people collaborating with an experienced music producer.
Laura Barnes, Artistic Director of RPA said Street Lights is an exciting event that brings together visual and performing arts. It further highlights the amazing creativity and talent of young people in our area.
Swindon’s vibrant street art is the inspiration for the entire performance. It’s been incredible to see how these artworks have sparked a new dimension of creativity. The story of the artists’ work continues through the performances of our young talent.’
The performance of Street Lights will take place at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon on Saturday July 6th.
Based in Swindon, RPA has classes across the town. And also in Shrivenham, North Wiltshire, Oxon and Glocs.
