View from the start/end of Fleet Street showing Da Vinci Italian restaurant on the corner. Then on the first corner of Faringdon Road is the Kitchen on the Corner café in the old WG Little premises. Image courtesy of Jason Spickett of Swindon from the Air
Developed in the 1880s, the time was when this stretch of road comprised two separate streets: Faringdon Road and Faringdon Street. They, along with Westcott Place and Fleet Street, were developed along an ancient track known as the Fleetway or Fleteway. Developed in the 1880s, the time was when this stretch of road comprised two separate streets: Faringdon Road and Faringdon Street. They, along with Westcott Place and Fleet Street, were developed along an ancient track known as the Fleetway or Fleteway. A 1773 Andrews & Drury map shows this track connecting Lower Eastcott with the main road leading from the bottom of Kings’s Hill towards what’s now West Swindon.
Thus, where Fleet Street meets Bridge Street, in a nod to that long-gone track, a currently unoccupied commercial building bears the name Fleetway House.
View down Faringdon Road in the direction of the GWR park. The railway village cottages, set back on the right are Taunton Street. Yet the retail premises on the left are Faringdon Road – so it’s a little confusing. As with the streets in the railway village, this one takes its name from stations on the GWR network.
The Swindon Society state that the whole thing became Faringdon Road in 1928. And, according to Sheldon & Tomkins in their Roadways book, the street incorporates Faringdon Street, Bath Terrace, St Anne’s terrace and the northern terrace of Cambria Place. It appears that the renaming took place to avoid confusion between houses in the road with the same numbers.
1900 OS map showing more detail of Faringdon Road/Street/GWR park – courtesy of Local Studies
The Roaring Twenties
The Swindon Society state that the whole thing became Faringdon Road in 1928. And, according to Sheldon & Tomkins in their Roadways book, the street incorporates Faringdon Street, Bath Terrace, St Anne’s terrace and the northern terrace of Cambria Place. It appears that the renaming took place to avoid confusion between houses in the road with the same numbers.
Mapping it
Looking at the section from the OS map below you’ll note the Faringdon Road section is off the map. But it began at the Park Lane/Westcott Road junction. On its left-hand side, in the direction of the town centre it ran past the GWR park, the Taunton Street cottages and the GWR Medical Fund Society Hospital (now the central community centre) ending at the junction you see.
Over the junction, you’ll see this thoroughfare becomes Faringdon Street. There, the first building is the erstwhile barracks, now youth music centre.*
There’s then a backsie before another run of railway village cottages begins. These ones are classed (now) as Faringdon Road. The first one you come to, Number 34, is the railway village museum. This stretch of the old Faringdon Street ended with No 4, cornering with East Street on the left-hand side of the road and with Catherine street across the road, before morphing into Fleet Street.
1899 OS map The backsie between the Platform and the railway cottage museum
**4-34 Faringdon Road are, like all the cottages in the railway village, Grade II listed.
Number 34 Faringdon Road recreates a foreman’s cottage, circa 1900. John Chandler, in Swindon Decoded, tells us that James Hall, a second-generation Swindon railwayman, lived there in modest comfort with his wife and family. Somewhere around 1860 James moved into this dwelling with his parents, when it was new and he was a child. Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust now manage the museum.
The railway village museum Swindon at No 34 Faringdon Road
*The Platform
Having covered this in Swindon in 50 More Buildings I’ll simply say that this building’s enjoyed a chequered career. It opened in 1855 as a hostel for single men employed in the Works. As such it never was popular. In 1867 it became a Methodist chapel. Then, from 1962 it served as the home of the railway museum until that moved across the tracks to STEAM. At the turn of the millennium it morphed into The Platform – a music and performance space.
Faringdon Road view showing The Platform on the left corner with the GWR railway village behind, looking towards Fleet Street.
Image courtesy of Jason Spickett – Swindon from the Air
Businesses past and present
I’ve already mentioned the long-gone draper WG Little. Worthy of note, if only for the excuse of using this wonderful image of its window display, is another clothing business that once traded there, by the name of Great Western Clothiers.
Great Western Clothiers – image courtesy of the Swindon Society
On the topic of Great Western Clothiers, a listener wrote in to say that he has and still uses a couple of wooden coat hangers from the aforementioned drapery that are a good 120+ years old. They were his grandmother’s and then his mothers’ and now his. Both is grandmother and mother lived in the railway village – as did he when he was a small boy.
I like that – the shop is long gone but the coat hangers live on to tell the tale.
We can’t leave Faringdon Road without visiting the Don Rogers Sports Shop at number 29. Established in 1967 by the man himself, it’s still going strong. Don Rogers is a household name for many Swindonians as a Swindon Town Football Club player – with whom he enjoyed a glittering career.
My mate Simon Webb grew up on Faringdon Road – 153 to be precise. His home was opposite the park and used it as a front garden. They also had 100ft f back garden and he describes it as a fab place to grow up. Today it’s as v busy thoroughfare but back then I image it was a whole lot quieter.
GWR park mural by Sarah Harris – swing boatsGWR park mural by Sarah Harris – swing boats
Art Meets Retail at Brunel Swindon as it plays host to new exhibition.
The Brunel Swindon is playing host to a major arts exhibition. And it’s all thanks to a new link-up with Swindon Arts Fringe Festival (SWAF).
SWAF (led by creative charity Artsite) connects artists, curators and local businesses. The festival sees 15 separate exhibitions, displaying more than 200 pieces of art. Curated, around different themes, they include ‘sleep rituals’, ‘lost’ and ‘iconic Swindon’. The artists come from a wide area, and all the exhibitions are free.
Swindon Arts Fringe Festival – some participating artists
Third year
Now in its third year, the festival runs until June 28, at 19 Canal Walk (next to McDonalds). There are also extra activities at Artsite’s base in Theatre Square and at the neighbouring Wyvern Theatre.
Sue Bardwell and Sally Taylor, co-managers of Artsite, along with Lisa Lowe and Leah Panigada-Carey, are the organisers behind the SWAF.
The Brunel team have been incredible. They get the vision of what we are doing,’ said Sue. ‘We hope it will bring something for everybody who is in and around the town centre. It’s a great venue, super-accessible, all on ground level, with plenty of space.’
A spokesperson for The Brunel Swindon said: ‘We’re delighted to partner with the Swindon Arts Fringe Festival and welcome this fantastic celebration of creativity. Transforming 19 Canal Walk into a vibrant gallery is a brilliant way to support local talent. And bring a unique cultural experience right to the heart of our shopping centre.’
The Brunel Swindon has something for everyone. There’s national favourites including:
Boots
Pandora
Lush
Chopstix
And then there’s independent heroes such as the Something Different gift shop, Incredible Comic Store, Taste of India and many more.
Join an unforgettable journey to Middle-Earth this weekend. The reason? A Parody of the Rings arrives at Town Gardens Bowl for one night only, this Friday, 19th June.
Presented by The Production Garden, the fast-paced comedy show puts a chaotic and hilarious twist on one of the world’s most beloved fantasy trilogies. When a cinema’s Lord of the Rings marathon goes wrong and the DVDs go missing, a team of hapless ushers must recreate the entire saga live on stage. And using nothing but the soundtracks, their imaginations and a healthy dose of improvisation.
Town Gardens Epic Comedy Adventure – actors from A Parody of the Rings
Packed with comedy, audience interaction and larger-than-life characters, Parody of the Rings transforms Tolkien’s epic adventure into a laugh-out-loud theatrical experience. From hobbits and elves to wizards and orcs, nothing is safe from the show’s affectionate parody.
The production has delighted audiences across the UK with its inventive storytelling and energetic performances. Whether you’re a lifelong Lord of the Rings fan or looking for a fun summer evening out, this open-air performance promises plenty of laughs beneath the stars.
Cllr John Firmin, Chair of South Swindon Parish Council’s Events Working Party said:
‘Town Gardens Bowl is Swindon’s unique outdoor venue. And we’re delighted to welcome Parody of the Rings for what promises to be a fantastic evening of comedy and entertainment. It’s the perfect opportunity for all to enjoy a memorable night in the beautiful Town Gardens surroundings.’
The performance takes place at Town Gardens Bowl this weekend. To be sure of your place: book early!
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride celebrates first birthday back at The Brunel Swindon.
Swindon & Wiltshire Prideare having a double celebration this summer. For the organisation marks one year back in its home at The Brunel Swindon. The milestone coincides with June’s Pride Month and the much-anticipated return of the Pride Festival on 15 August.
Since returning to The Brunel Swindonon July 1 last year, the Pride Hub has transformed into a vital community cornerstone welcoming the LGBTQIA+ community.
Heather Pyke, who runs the Pride Hub, said: ‘We wanted to be back in The Brunel Swindon. It’s such a lovely space, and it also offers another level of security, as we are off the high street. The Brunel Swindon management team have been incredible. They’ve been so welcoming and generous to us, even the security staff come along and pop their heads in.’
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride celebrates –
Heather Pyke, who runs the Pride Hub, said: ‘We wanted to be back in The Brunel Swindon. It’s such a lovely space, and it also offers another level of security, as we are off the high street. The Brunel Swindon management team have been incredible. They’ve been so welcoming and generous to us, even the security staff come along and pop their heads in.’
Neil Reeves, who oversees publicity for Swindon & Wiltshire Pride, added: ‘It’s such a versatile space. It’s a real focal point for our community members to come and sit, chill and catch up.’
When to visit
The Hub is open every Saturday, and for several extra days during school holidays.
A spokesperson for The Brunel Swindon said: ‘We’re so delighted to host the Pride Hub and celebrate this wonderful one-year milestone with them. The team have created such a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere within the centre. It’s been a pleasure to see the Hub go from strength to strength. We’re proud to support such a vital resource for our community. And we look forward to seeing the centre buzzing with energy as we lead into the Pride Festival this August.’
Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted 16,500 people, the 2026 festival will once again take place at the GWR Park. The day will begin with the traditional march from the town centre to the park – including members of The Brunel Swindon team. All together for a family-friendly afternoon of food, stalls and live entertainment.
For more information on the Swindon Pride Hub or the upcoming festival lineup, please visit the Pride Hub at The Brunel Swindon, or go to https://www.swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk/.
To talk about St Saviour’s we need first to talk about Swindon’s railway churches. Swindon has four so-called railway churches – all built to meet the spiritual needs of the burgeoning New Swindon.
St Mark’s church, opposite the GWR park came first, in 1845. Then there came:
So that’s them then. Except it’s not. St Mark’s church has another daughter church.* One that’s thus far escaped my attention. It would have been good to get it into Swindon in 50 More Buildings – but to be honest I didn’t think about it. And if I had – well there isn’t a building that I’d have wanted to substitute. So here we are.
The church in question is St Saviour’s on Ashford Road. What makes this church interesting isn’t its architecture or stained glass or a particularly fine font. Rather than being famous-architect-designed like St Mark’s and Christ Church, the men of the GWR built this one from wood.
St Saviour’s Church – the front cover of Build me an Ark – all about St Saviour’s -showing the original wooden structure
NB: I’m told by John Stooke that St Mark’s had yet another daughter church in Aylesbury Street – St John the Evangelist.
Poetry in motion
One-time Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman wrote of S. Saviour’s:
‘Up a steep hill going out of the New Town winds Old Swindon, there is a church built of wood and called St. Saviour’s. That was erected in 1889-90, in six months, by S. Mark’s men, mostly railway workers.’
‘When you consider that they did this in their spare time and for nothing. And that some of them sacrificed their holidays and that their working hours were from 6am to 5.30pm. In those days, you can imagine the faith that inspired them to go out after a long day’s work and build a church.
‘I would sooner be on my knees within the wooden walls of S. Saviour’s than leaning elegantly forward in a cushioned pew in an Oxford college chapel. That is to say if I am to realise there is something beyond this world worth thinking about.’
Meeting the needs of a growing population
In 1881 the population of New Swindon stood at nearly 20,000 and was rising fast. A mere forty years after the arrival of the GWR Works, building had spread out of the railway village. Along Westcott Place in the first instance and then beyond the railway line to the north of the town.
With this rapid increase in population, the parish church of St Mark’s found itself struggling to service the spiritual needs of its ever-growing congregation. The need for another church was paramount. But the cupboard, as it were, was bare.
Not one to let a little thing like an empty bank account deter him, one Canon Ponsonby stepped into the pulpit on June 9, 1889 – Whit Sunday. There he delivered a rousing sermon – a call to arms of a kind. Taking as his text, Genesis chapter 6, verse 14, he implored his congregation to ‘build me an ark’. And they did – they built a wooden church.
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.’
*Before I go any further, I should state that St Saviour’s is no longer a daughter church of St Mark’s. And the same goes for St Luke’s. The parish became a Team Ministry and with that, to all intents and purposes, these three churches became ‘equal’. For many years now, the parish has come under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Bristol under the episcopal care of the bishop of the Bishop of Oswestry’.
Getting on with the job
Following a couple of meetings, a band of sixty volunteers stepped forward and were soon organized into work groups. Work began at once on a plot of land donated by local landowner William Sheppard – his name crops up a lot when one starts digging into Swindon stuff. Along with a few others – Levi Lapper Morse for instance. But I digress.
The Rev Charles John Corfe kicked things off by lifting the first sod of earth. And, on August 12th, 1889, Miss Ethel Dean, the daughter of the chief mechanical engineer at the Works, William Dean, laid the foundation stone. She used the words:
‘In the faith of Jesus Christ, we place this stone in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost’.
You can see the stone inside the church porch and an inscription: ‘To the glory of God this stone was laid by Ethel, daughter of W Dean, Esq on August 12th, AD 1889.’
Work continued on the church every evening and Saturday afternoons. The volunteers worked throughout the GWR Christmas shutdown. Thus, within a mere six months, St Saviour’s church was ready to open its doors for worship.
They came bringing gifts
Gifts included 1,000 bricks donated by local builder George Wiltshire. And also wood, of which there was a considerable amount, given by an anonymous “Welsh Churchman.” Among others who made donations were the Verschoyle sisters, daughters of Crimean veteran Henry William Verschoyle and his wife, the former Lucy Clarissa Goddard.
Granddaughters of the Goddard clan, Sybil and Kathleen, each gave eight chairs and their sister, Theresa, supplied the altar cross.
1904 and an extension becomes needed
At length, so busy did this little wooden church become that a feeling arose that the time had come for a replacement for this temporary church – a larger church with the capacity for 1,000 worshippers on the present site. The general opinion though came out against that notion. And the parochial verdict came down in favour of enlarging the existing church.
Thus, early in 1904 one Gerald Thompson, at the behest of the Rev. A G G Ross obtained drawings showing that enlargement was possible. The scheme set out in those drawings got approval as being possible by a Mr Townsend – he’d supervised the 1889 erection of the church.
Various committees made reports – who knew eh? – until, at last, at a meeting held on 25th May 1904, came the unanimous decision to go ahead with the enlargement. One hundred men volunteered for the work. This time though, many of them were regular worshippers at St Saviour’s. There were also young men involved who’d helped with the original church building as children.
St Saviour’s after 1905 extension – from Build me an Ark
More changes to come
But more changes were to come. A Swindon Advertiser article of June 2009 reports that, by the 1950s the St Saviour’s congregation were anxious to protect their ‘temporary’ wooden church. After considering their options they engaged local architect, RJ Beswick to add a new vestry and encase the existing building in stone.
They further state that 1961 saw the rededication of St Saviour’s with the home-made wooden church as last becoming a permanent fixture.
