Alfred Williams Hammerman Poet – 1877 to 1930. It appears that I’ve never mentioned the South-Marston-born polymath on this blog before now. But a visit to South Marston yesterday to see the houses with which Alfred’s short and rather tragiclife intertwined, has prompted me to correct that.
I have though dedicated space to him on pages 29-32 of Secret Swindon. Many thanks to Graham Carter for the information that went on those pages. And thanks go too, to Graham, and Ian Hampson, for yesterday’s walk around South Marston.
Alfred Williams Hammerman Poet – the grave in South Marston’s churchyard of Alfred Williams and his wife, Mary Peck.
The infant Alfred entered the world in the house you see below, Cambria Cottage.
Alfred William’s South Marston birthplace Cambria CottagePlaque on Cambria cottage South Marston – birthplace of Alfred Williams
When Alfred was around four or five years old his mother became a single parent. Whether Alfred’s father left of his own accord or was asked to go isn’t clear. Either way, the event forced young Alfred’s mother to move her brood to Rose Cottage, close to his South Marston, Cambria Cottage birthplace.
Unofficial blue plaque Rose Cottage in South Marston, one time home of Alfred WilliamsRose Cottage in South Marston, one time home of Alfred Williams
Education and self-education
South Marston village school attended by Alfred Williams – little changed from his day I think.
The rudimentary education Alfred received was soon usurped by the need to get farm work to support the struggling family. Working on the land though provided a precarious living and Alfred faced a harsh choice. His heart belonged to the fields and the outdoors but he couldn’t justify ignoring the security and better pay of the Works, as soul-destroying for him as it was. Yet the young man forced to give the best years of his life to the stamping shop compensated by educating himself and following his creative urges in his downtime.
He set about learning the classics. He read Shakespeare, experimented with painting and learned Greek, Latin and French to further his education. Legend has it that, in his breaks at work, he’d chalk Greek and Latin letters on his furnace to learn them.
Cutting short a long story we come to1914. Now, dogged by ill health, Alfred left the railway works scrawling Vici (I conquered) in chalk above his furnace as he went. If nothing else, leaving the Works gave him the chance to complete Life in a Railway Factory. This the warts and all exposé of life inside that he’d begun in 1911. Williams’ biographer Leonard Clark described the book as the bravest and most comprehensive condemnation of factory life to appear in Europe in thirty years. Alfred himself was pleased with his work. He said it was ‘the only good book on factory life that we have in England written by a working man.’ Without doubt his book made an important commentary on the history of Swindon. And a landmark documentary of British industrial life. Yet it sold only a dozen copies in Swindon in the six years after its publication.
Alfred and Mary married at St Saviours Church in Eddington on the 21st of October 1903. They honeymooned in Torquay. Alfred, at the time of his marriage, left Rose Cottage and moved into Dryden Cottage opposite Cambria Cottage, his birth place. They lived in Dryden Cottage for the next fifteen years.
Dryden cottage in South Marston. The first marital home of Mary and Alfred
Alfred’s military service
After a brief spell in South Africa, he arrived in India in November 1917. And soon became fascinated with its history and culture. He was by now working on a book called Indian Life and Scenery. Like many, he became ill with fever. As things worked out, he found himself in Ranikhet. That, as you’ll see, has a connection with a small Wiltshire village many thousands of miles away. He was captivated with India and noted that if he were younger, he would have invited Mary to join him. He also saw the Taj Mahal.
It was during his stay in India that Mary informed him they had have to move house. Dryden Cottage had been purchased by a local farmer who’d decided to live in it.
Again cutting a story short, Mary and Alfred decided to build their own house. This they did, pretty much with their own bare hands. And they called it Ranikhet.
Side gate on Ranikhet in South Marston
Note this date plaque on the side of Ranikhet. It bears no relation to the house – it was built in the early 1920s. It’ll be, I imagine, some random bit of rubble that Alfred & Mary used when building the house.
Ranikhet random date plaqueRanikhet in South Marston – as much of a view of it as is possible
Alfred’s legacy
Alfred already has two titles, but we can attribute a third one to him: social historian. He left behind his poetry and his prose yes, but he did something else too. He appointed himself a collector of Wiltshire folk song lyrics to prevent their disappearance. This undertaking was mammoth. He visited ninety-seven towns and villages on his bike. He covered something like 7,000 miles (take that The Proclaimers!) to collect over 1,000 songs. He’d have to have done this in the winter months, in the hours of darkness as during summer time and daylight hours, agricultural workers, from whom he collected the lyrics, would be hard at work.
Following the recent theft of Banksy’s ‘Howling Wolf’ from Peckham, one of the venues in Swindon Open Studios (SOS) has called on a garrison of Stormtroopers and Daleks. Their mission to provide extra protection for the work of 20 artists and craftspeople at the Carriage Works on September 21st.
A family fun day kicks off the opening of the exhibition at 11am. Children are invited to come dressed as their favourite Sci-fi character, in the spirit of a Comicon event*. Apart from paintings, pottery, digital art, photography and jewellery, there’ll be two children’s book authors exhibiting.
Swindon New College will be demonstrating media make-up too, so there’s something for everyone with an interest in the arts.
QR Code SOS Website of artists work
Taking part
Swindon Open Studios has 130 participants in 56 different venues in and around Swindon this year. The event at Armstrong’s Carriage Works presents a once-only opportunity for artists to exhibit together in this superb space. Immediately afterwards, the historic listed building will undergo a major renovation.
The family fun day with café was the brainchild of Mark and Anna Enright who run Podpadstudios. They jumped at the chance of working with Swindon Borough Council and Create Studiosto use the huge Carriage Works space. That’s because they’ve never before been able to exhibit their entire collection of life-size film props under one roof.
*Joining the:
Podpadstudios Terminator-inspired Robot T-1-FNY
Steampunk Dalek
Dr Who’s K9
Star Wars R2D2 droids
Animatronic dragons and …
A life-sized Batmobile …
.. will be Stormtroopers from MKG who will be fund raising for Prospect Hospice, Swindon. All of which goes to show that not all Stormtroopers and Daleks are baddies after all! Entry is completely FREE to the family fun Day and Swindon Open Studios exhibition which runs for the last two weekends of September.
MKG With Izzy Steampunk Droid (1)Batmobile at Lydiard HouseQR code for SOS 24 map
Wyvern Theatre SYP 2024. Yes folks – it’s that time again – the Wyvern Theatre’s summer youth project 2024. I’ve seen several summer youth projects over the years and they’ve always been splendid. And in this year’s production, (the THIRTIETH SYP), The Little Mermaid and the high production values of these productions are as much in evidence in this joyous production as ever.
Directed by that Pantomime Dame extraordinaire, David Ashely, the entire cast and ensemble shimmered their way around the stage and the entire auditorium – no aisle knowingly goes to waste in the SYP!
It was all wonderful and nothing fishy about it at all. The jokes won’t get any better than that so I’ll stop there.
Wyvern’s Summer Youth Project – The little mermaid
Awesome
I have a Canadian friend, who I tease a tease a little, over her use of the adjective ‘awesome’. But when it comes to the SYP – we’ve seen several together now, including this one – there couldn’t be a better one. Writing as someone who still hasn’t memorized their mobile phone number, I’m in total awe that the young people involved learn all their words and their moves in such a short time. The whole thing is confected from the raw ingredients to the finished soufflé in about ten days. And that culinary reference makes a nifty segue into giving a special mention to two cast members.
Of course EVERYONE is terrific. But a spotlight for making us laugh goes to Toby Barton as the French chef Louis displaying some excellent, exaggerated Gallic shrugging. He was great value. I have to stay though, during that scene I was somewhat expecting it to conclude with the crab, Sebastian, on a plate. But then that would have been less Hans Christian Anderson/Disney and more Quentin Tarantino …
Then, besides the main characters of course, we both enjoyed Bethany Tunley as Scuttle the seagull. Also good value, she flapped her way around the stage with aplomb. And I loved her outfit with the flying goggles on her head. V clever and amusing.
About the Little Mermaid
As I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned here before, there’s nothing new under the sun – or in this case – the sea. For, way before Disney turned this watery tale into a block-busting movie it existed as a fairy tale written by Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen.
The Little Mermaid then (in Danish, Den lille havfrue), sometimes translated in English ‘As the Little Sea Maid was first published in 1837 as part of a collection of fairy tales for children. So it’s a story almost as old as the oceans – well ok – that’s an exaggeration. But it had been around a long time before it got the Disney treatment.
The story tells a tale of a young mermaid princess, willing to give up her oceanic life to have a human soul. I daresay you all know the story anyway so I’ll say no more about this lovely story about identity and self-discovery. I will note though that, and relevant considering recent events, it also carried a message about not fearing different. That not all different is bad. ‘Not all humans are bad’ – I’m paraphrasing – cried Ariel. Indeed they’re not. And likewise neither are all Muslims, Jews, Gays, brown-eyed people … etc, etc, etc. And so, as this Guardian article explains, that’s why we need the black Ariel in Disney’s film.
PS: I’ve been attending these things for a few years now and have never, until last night, seen the presence of MPs/Cllrs. Not once. Last night broke the mould – both our MPS and a borough cllr (and partners) were in attendance. And not only for the reception but the entire performance. Good to see.
Swindon Pickleball Festival. Swindon is set to serve up a new kind of excitement this August Bank Holiday weekend. The town is hosting its first-ever Pickleball festival. The two-day event, scheduled for Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2024, promises to be a thrilling weekend for both seasoned players and newcomers to the sport.
Held at the Delta Tennis Centre, the festival will feature a 12-court indoor setup. Thus making it the largest pickleball event ever hosted in Swindon.
The event is open to all ages and skill levels, with a variety of match formats to cater to everyone from competitive players to casual participants looking to enjoy the game in a friendly environment.
Swindon Pickleball Festival
Great excitement
Shaun Jones, organiser of Swindon Pickleball, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event.
We’re so excited to bring the first-ever Pickleball Festival to Swindon. Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, and we’re thrilled to showcase it in such a vibrant community. This festival is all about bringing people together-whether you’re a seasoned player or someone who’s never picked up a paddle. There’s something for everyone.
We can’t wait to see people of all ages and abilities join in the fun.’
The festival will run from 9 am to 5 pm each day, with a packed schedule of activities.
How it will work
Saturday will see unlimited festival friendlies on eight courts. And Sunday will expand the action to all 12 courts, offering unlimited festival friendlies throughout the day.
A spokesperson for Delta Tennis Centre added:’ We’re delighted to partner with Swindon Pickleball to host this event.
Delta Tennis Centre has a long history of promoting sports in Swindon. So we’re proud to support the growth of pickleball in the region. This festival is a fantastic opportunity for people to experience the sport in a welcoming and supportive environment. We look forward to seeing a great turnout.’
Registration for the event is currently open on the Pickleball England website here. But! There’s a limited nmber of spaces so we’re encouraging early registration to secure a spot.
The registration deadline is 11 am on Sunday, 18th August 2024. Any entries received after capacity is reached will go on a standby list. We’ll accept withdrawals and refund requests until midnight on Thursday, 15th August 2024, with a 10% administrative fee applicable.
The entry fee is set at £10 for youth players (under 18) for Saturday, and £20 per adult for each day. A limited number of weekend passes are available at £30 per player.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to be part of Swindon’s first Pickleball Festival-whether to compete, learn, or simply enjoy a weekend of fun and sport.
About pickleball
Pickleball is a fast-growing sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Played on a smaller court with a lower net, it’s a game that is easy to learn but offers plenty of challenges for more experienced players. Using paddles and a perforated plastic ball, players can engage in singles or doubles matches.
Well known for its accessibility, the sport is popular among people of all ages and fitness levels. Its rapid growth across the UK and globally is a testament to its fun and social nature. And the excitement it brings to participants.
Swindon pickleball
June 2023 saw the establishment of Swindon pickleball to introduce and promote the game within the Swindon community. The club soon gained traction and now hosts weekly social sessions at the Delta Tennis Centre.
Designed to be inclusive, the sessions welcome players of all ages and skill levels. Currently, social sessions take place on Mondays. But there are plans to expand to Wednesdays before too long.
Swindon Pickleball is committed to fostering a friendly and supportive environment to fostering a friendly and supportive environment. One where players can enjoy the sport, improve their skills, and connect with others.
21 Bridge Street Swindon. AKA a branch of Swindon Co-operative Provident Society from 1927 onwards.
I’ve featured the building you see here because it’s a fine building in a somewhat less parlous state than many. And it’s part of Swindon’s Co-op story. Something I feel I shouldn’t let this series pass by without mention.
It’s a story that’s less than ideal in its complexity. It’s rather a bad acid trip trying to unravel it. One reason for that being that Swindon managed to have not one but THREE Co-operative societies. They were:
The Swindon Co-operative Provident Society – founded in 1850 with a small bread shop.
1861/62 saw the formation of the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society – a breakaway from The Swindon Co-operative Provident Society.
Come 1880, a third group, the Kingshill Co-operative, opened in Radnor Street.
So what I’m going to do is offer a few facts, gleaned from a brief history of the Swindon Co-operative Provident Society Ltd, as it concerns our building, to give you an idea. In that document there’s a poor quality photograph of it in its former glory. And I’ll get to that in a bit.
As anyone that was a schoolchild in the 1950s and 1960s, worth their salt, ought to be able to tell you, the Co-operative movement began in Rochdale, Lancashire in 1844. There and then, a group of twenty-eight men, set about selling food at honest prices. And to share the profits through a dividend – known as the divi.
I remember well walking up the road to the ‘corp’, as we called it, to buy milk tokens – different colours for different types of milk. These we’d put on the doorstep, one token per pint required, and the ‘corp’ milkman would collect them and leave the requisite bottles of milk. And the tokens would return to the branch for reuse. Recycling before it had been invented. And I remember mum’s divi book too …anyway …
The building now
As the image shows the bottom half of the building is in a mess – but the upper floors do appear to be occupied.
As you can see the bottom half of this building most recently served as a drinking establishment. But it must have had more uses than that. Was there a branch of the much-loved-much-missed Norman’s furnishings in this building? If anyone can clarify anything I’d be grateful.
21 Bridge Street Swindon 1920s – from 1927 a branch of Swindon Co-operative Provident SocietyDetail 21 Bridge Street Swindon 1920sOur Bridge Street Co-op building and the two buildings to the right of it housing Norman’s furnishings in 1990.
Now 21 Bridge Street might around the corner, onto Fleet Street (see above) behind the Public Benefit Boot Company premises on the corner itself – and a modern building replacing what you see in the local studies pic below.
The Local Studies Flickr site has the image below described thus: 1934: East Street Co-op on Fleet Street, Swindon. Is this another entrance to ‘our’ building? Or is it another branch altogether? That it’s referred to as East Street Co-op rather suggests that. As does it not being the same style as our building. There again that might mean nothing at all. Answers on a postcard please!
The New Swindon Co-operative Provident Society – 1850 to 1951
Cover of a short history – 1850 to 1927 – of the Swindon Co-operative provident society ltd21 Bridge Street as it used to lookAnother Swindon Co-operative Provident Society building at 16/17 Bridge StreetSwindon Co-op Provident Society Ltd advert
It began with a box of bloaters … I think …
In the latter part of 1850, a group of Swindon men resolved to follow the Rochdale pioneers and buy goods from wholesalers and merchants. They started with a box of bloaters/herrings and followed that with grocery and flour.
From 1853 to 1862 the society’s fortunes varied. Business first took place at 4 High Street – by the the corner of Oxford Street. The society then rented a bakery in Church Place. At length Dr Swinhoe had a house built on the site – what we now know as Park House.
They then decided to buy land to erect a bakery. On Oct 21st 1862 the society bought a plot of land at East Place for £51 and moved the registered office to it.
But the grocery part of the business it seems, wasn’t as successful as the bakery side of the enterprise. As a result, the committee took the decision to drop the grocery and concentrate on the bakery. Unfortunately some of the membership were unhappy with this decision and formed a breakaway society. Thus the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society came into being.
On January 27 1951 the Swindon Co-operative Provident society (offices on Henry Street) ceased to exist as a separate entity. It became part of the New Swindon Industrial Society – known locally as the East St Society or the East Street Co-Op. And the name lived on until 2005.
East Street – ? the first branch of the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative societyBlock of flats across from the East Street Co-op building Membership card for the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative SocietyAdvertisement for the East Street Co-opProduce on offer at the East Street Co-op
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones
So there you have the barest of bones of Swindon’s Co-op story. Here’s an interesting thing though. If you go to Bridge Street and study this building you can see ghosts of the legend: New Swindon Co-operative Society Ltd (see images below).
AND if your eyes are sharp enough, the lettering of an earlier incarnation appears. I can’t make it out but it’s possible it’s the one on the image in this history brochure:
Brochure Swindon & District Co-operative SocietyNewSwindon Co-operativeSociety
