News from the Peripatetic Philosopher 1866

One of Wiltshire's finest sons made a walk from his home to Liddington Church in 1866 and his record of it was then published in the North Wiltshire Herald.  How appropriate the inscription he read might seem today with Swindon growing and encroaching on the village.  Today Liddington seems a quiet and sleepy village yet I wonder if a 19th Century time traveller would recognise its sights and sounds recorded on the Summer Solstice 2011.

'It is a strange church-yard this one at Liddington, elevated many feet above the level of the street; built up partly by a stone wall, partly banked. At the entrance is built a kind of house with seats, written over it to meet the comer’s eye are the words – “Here we have no abiding city.”

MEETING

Ever been to a meeting and wondered what your best contribution could be when you feel cynical about all you are hearing. Swindon Borough Council decided to invite concerned groups for consultation over their new heritage policy, this might have been the best response but it obviously went unheard.  

PS. Anyone remember Promise 27 and the 5 year plan?

SOVIET SWINDON

In the days of Thamesdown Council many thought the Soviets had invaded now maybe we only wish they had.
  
This map of Swindon was made from an original 1950s OS map, updated by aerial photography and agents in the UK.  A common site in the 1970s and 80s was the spies sipping vodka on the Town Hall steps reciting the works of Lenin. 

The invasion did not happen but whatever the downside of regime change it might have seemed less painful if you consider the really nice stamps that would have dropped through your door for unpaid library fines and Party news.

MAP

STAMPS

PAPER DOLL

People are sending stuff in all the while so watch this space and I'll add bit by bit.  Do paper dolls have anything to do with Swindon, well some people did celebrate the Royal Wedding and there is a thriving dance scene so a link is made.

1840

Daniel Gooch writes to Brunel with this drawing recommending Swindon as the site for GWR works.  Part of the letter says '...it also has the great advantage of being on the side of a canal communicating with the whole of England, and by which we could get coal and coke.'  The canal actually served and then help build the very thing which made it redundant.

1939

In this OS map used by my parents when cycling around Wiltshire in 1939 the canal is already labelled 'Old Canal'.