24. Sanford Street School

24. Sanford Street School

Swindon’s Sanford Street school for boys opened in 1881 with capacity for 794 boys. The building cost of £5 per child was in-line with the standard cost of infant schools at that time – but this one boasted a superior design. It’s reasonable to assume that the school’s designer, Brightwen Binyon, felt proud of it being as he published it in Building News in 1881.

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23. No 24 Fleet Street 1902

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.

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21. The Corn Exchange Old Town

21. The Corn Exchange Old Town

With Swindon in 50 Buildings, I had to keep to a firm brief set by the publisher, Amberley. I had to stay central – nothing from the wider borough. And the buildings I wrote about had to be still standing – they couldn’t be ex-buildings. So in this series of Swindon in 50 More Buildings I’m redressing some of that. Ergo, though I haven’t yet, I will include at least a couple of buildings from the wider borough and, if only one, an ex-building. Namely, ,Old Town’s Corn Exchange aka the Locarno.

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St Barnabas’ Church Murals

St Barnabas’ Church Murals

I’m not at all sure how the St Barnabas’ church murals came onto my radar. But onto it they came. Thus I felt compelled to include these astonishing paintings – and the church itself – in Swindon in 50 Buildings. While researching that book, myself and Royston Cartwright had a drive out to Gorse Hill – the location of St Barnabas to have a look. Sadly the church was closed but we got photos of it for the book.

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The Oasis and Inclusivity

The Oasis and Inclusivity

From one of the campaign team, Helena Williams Bowie, on the topic of the Oasis and inclusivity.

Back in 1972 when Swindon’s elders conceived the Oasis, the town had a population around half of what it is today. They knew back then the town’s population could and would have a rapid increase. And indeed, the expansion of Swindon continues almost 50 years on. Back then the administration in charge had a bold vision. Now we’re lacking facilities with double the population.

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West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see

Swindon In 50 Buildings

Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide

Dona Bradley Architectural Illustrator

https://dona-b-drawings.co.uk/?ref=zulDs2fHXqWHq

We Are Swindon