Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and culture
We say Autumn – you say Fall
If you hold the belief that ‘fall’ is an American barbarism might want to think again. As this online etymology dictionary points out ‘fall’ (in simple terms) comes from the Old English ‘feallan’, past tense ‘feoll’, past participle ‘feallen’ – meaning to drop from a height; fail, decay or die.
Trick or Treat? A Halloween history
Hello once more dear listeners. Following on from my recent post about the term ‘Fall’ (autumn) here we are again with a bit more linguistic debunking – with some customs and traditions thrown in for good measure. This time regarding Halloween and Trick or Treat?
Pressure Group and Council Liaise
SBC has confirmed that they are reconsidering the museum and art gallery’s current home, Apsley House on Bath Road as an option to house the art and museum collections until they find a suitable alternative venue.
Mechanics’ Matters Newsletter No 2
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. It brings together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers. Places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. The Mechanics’ Institution Trust, in partnership with the Heritage Action Zone, are opening up some of its buildings and putting on several events.
Graham Seaman Media
Imagine if you will, that you want to launch a book but you’re in the middle of pandemic. So you can’t have an event in the usual way, at a venue with hordes (you hope) of people rocking up to buy copies of the book in question.
Memories of the Oasis
In the midst of the ongoing situation with the Oasis leisure centre, my ad-hoc guest blogger Rebecca Davies, shares her memories of the Oasis from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. My Memories of the Oasis, by Rebecca Davies BSc (Hons). I thought I ought to write...
Swindon’s Famous Crocodile
This is the story of Swindon’s famous crocodile. The one that lives on the top floor of Apsley House, home to Swindon’s museum and art gallery. Well – sort of. More on that later.
2021 sees Beat the Street Return
The Beat the Street game is back! 2021 sees Beat the Street Return.
The walking, cycling and rolling initiative that has twice turned Swindon into a real-life interactive game is returning. It hits Swindon’s streets again from Wednesday, 15th September to Wednesday, 27th October.
Mechanics’ Matters Newsletter No 1
The Mechanics’ Matters Newsletter
The building has been through three independent reviews. Two of these reviews covered viability proposals. And we’re pleased to say that a use, based on the Trust’s own proposals, is deemed viable.
Swindon’s Street Art and Murals
Back in the day, Swindon was something of a mural capital thanks to the work of Swindon-born artist Ken White. One by one his murals disappeared and now only one remains, the first one, the Golden Lion Bridge mural.
Swindon in 50 more buildings
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
We Are Swindon
