Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and culture
Athelstan Museum Turner Teatime Talk
A series of fascinating teatime talks continues at the Athelstan Museum in Malmesbury on Wednesday June 21. This time with an insight into Turner and the Sea.
The renowned Romantic artist Joseph Mallord William Turner became known as ‘the painter of the light’ and ‘the father of modern art’. His watercolour of Malmesbury Abbey hangs in the Athelstan Museum thanks to funding from the National Lottery.
The Mayor’s Parlour & Mace
The Mayor’s Parlour & Mace – two Swindon gems if ever there were. And at last I got to properly see the room – and the mace. When I wrote Swindon in 50 Buildings I did of course include the civic offices and the image below of the mayor’s parlour from the 1930s. I did take some photos – see bottom of the post – but they really don’t do it justice. You’d need to be David Bailey to manage that TBF.
Swindon Independent Film Festival
So – hands up who knew we have here a Swindon independent film festival? Well – you might but I didn’t until I started seeing their tweets. So here’s a wee post about it.
Paralympian Commentating at Wimbeldon
Paralympian Commentating at Wimbeldon. Former British wheelchair tennis player Louise Hunt will be sharing her expertise while commentating at this year’s Wimbledon championships. The championship has, this year, provided more opportunities for wheelchair players.
Summer 2023 at the Bowl
Summer 2023 at the bowl in Town Gardens – South Swindon parish council announce their events for the spring/summer season.
History of Lacemaking Talk
The History of lacemaking is the subject of the latest Teatime talk at Malmesbury’s Athelstan Museum on Wednesday May 17th.
Railway Village Book Fair
Local author Lis McDermott and Dan Fishlock, Community Engagement Officer for the Mechanics’ Institution Trust are organising the first book fair for the Railway Village. It’s happening later this month (May 20).
Professor Ron Johnston Geographer
The offspring of Louis and Joyce Johnston, Ron entered the world on 30th March 1941. He grew up Chiseldon where his parents ran the post office. And no doubt that start in life helped him put his stamp on the world. Boom! (It doesn’t get any better I’m afraid!
Athelstan Turner Diversity Project
I visited the Athelstan museum recently for the first time. It’s small but lovely and well worth a visit. And if you’ve got youngsters there’s the inevitable (but lovely) trail to do centred around the cautionary tale of not tickling tigers! But that’s all I’m saying – ‘cos – y’know – spoilers! Anyway – this post is all about the Athelstan museum (in Malmesbury) taking their Turner diversity project out into the community. It’s all part of their outreach programme to bring living history and art to more local people.
23. No 24 Fleet Street 1902
No 24 Fleet Street is one of the buildings I mention in the New Swindon/town centre trail that I wrote in my Born Again Swindonian guidebook. The whole point of that trail – indeed the book – is to urge and encourage the reader to find the interest, the story – yes even the beauty – in the less obvious. It exhorts one to look up because so often that’s where you’ll find the aforementioned.
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
Dona Bradley Architectural Illustrator
We Are Swindon
