High Street Old Town – another instalment in the Swindon in 25 Streets project. This time, as street that used to be the main shopping destination in Old Swindon – what we now know as Old Town.
3. High Street Old Town
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2. Freshbrook Way West Swindon
Freshbrook Way West Swindon. Although I’m numbering these articles, I’m not writing them in the order that they’ll appear in the Swindon in 25 Streets book when I get that far. So, as the title suggests, in this one I’m looking at Freshbrook Way in West Swindon.
Health Hydro Phase 1 Open
Health Hydro Phase 1 Open. Well, it’s been a while – but it was always going to be that. Anyway as of today, phase 1 of the renovation of the Grade II* listed health hydro – or Milton Road baths – is now open.
Supermarine Road South Marston
Supermarine Road South Marston, SN3. Why am I writing about a road? It’s a good and fair question. Well, having this year, at long last (long story) got Swindon in 50 More Buildings finished and out into the wild, I’d had every intention of stopping there. But it wasn’t to be. Earlier this year I got an email from Amberley Books saying there were starting a new series XXXX in 25 Streets and would I be interested in writing Swindon in 25 Streets? Cutting short a long story, my project for 2026 is to write that very thing. Hence my interest in streets!
1. Ferndale Road Swindon
Ferndale Road Swindon. Okay, I know, doesn’t sound too exciting a topic eh? But stay with me – it’s more interesting than it sounds. Honest! The reason for my interest in this long, long street is this: I’ve got a contract with Amberley Publishing to produce Swindon in 25 Streets by the back end of next year.
50. Unity Place Zurich Building 2023
Unity Place Zurich Building.
Hurrah! At LAST I’ve made it to No 50 in this Swindon in 50 More Buildings blog series. I began it back in the before times, in 2019, with this piece about the County Ground Hotel. But then the pandemic got in the way. And then a joint authorship of a book about West Swindon interfered. But at last I’m here. I have intention of turning these fifty blog posts into a physical book. With hopes that it doesn’t take me a further five years!
Baptist School/Albion Club
The Baptist School Bridge Street represents a classic example of me not following my own advice of ‘looking up’. Because, when someone posted a picture of what you see below and asked if anyone knew where it was I had to plead ignorance. Despite it being a building I’ve walked past countless times.
49. The Bothy at Burderop 1730s
The Bothy at Burderop, in the walled garden that once belonged to Burderop Manor is going to make an unusual and terrific home. A simply delightful couple, Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler, are converting the bothy, and the walled garden in which it sits, into a home. See more about the bothy gardens and the couple’s plans for it here: https://swindonian.me/2024/08/30/introducing-bothy-gardens/
48. 21 Bridge Street Swindon 1920s
21 Bridge Street Swindon. AKA A branch of Swindon Co-operative Provident Society from 1927 onwards.
47. St Mary’s Church Rodbourne C13
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. 1848 saw a rebuild by S. Sage of Swindon.
46. The Baptist Tabernacle 1886
Well. The Baptist Tabernacle. This building, unlike the Corn Exchange demolished by default, is most definitely in the ‘demolished’ category. Having met its date with the wrecking ball back in 1978.
45. The Burton Building Swindon 1931
I’m including the Burton building Swindon in this series for much the same reason as I’ve included 20 Fleet Street – the YMCA building. That reason being to record a fine building (another one) going to waste and dereliction.
Otherwise known as 24-25 Bridge Street, AJ Colborne built it for Montague Burton Ltd and the Lucania Temperance billiard hall. Begun in 1929, 1931 saw it completed.
Swindon in 50 more buildings
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
We Are Swindon
