Page 54 - link magazine

Making Music I Westlea

Calling all in Freshbrook, Toothill & Westlea I Residents
who are interested in helping young form a
LOCAL YOUTH BAND Assoc.
We've got the ideas and need adults that can I
play instruments and those that can't; to get 'The new (temporary) Westlea Community Room
together and talk through the how and when a Ishould be opening soon. If you want to make
youth band could start. We meet on fuse if this facility, please contact:
12th October 1981, 7.30 Toothill Farm
(Nick Jansen , 6 Moresby Close 872810
If you're between 11-18 and can already play olm
IMark To man, 33 Birdcombe
an instrument contact:
IRo e r Packer, ioodchester
e
r , 3
Reens 11 Chepstow Cl. Tel: 487107 g
1Imogen Fielden, 5 Chesterfield
or Jackie Raferty Arrivals Officer/Community
1Steve Whipp, 48 Moresby Close
Worker, Civic Offices, Swindon 26161 x3179
Come and meek your District and County Councillors on:
• COUNCILLORS October 9th 6-7pm Community Room, Toothill School
17th6.30-8pm Westlea Community Room-if ready

SURGERIES . October 31st 11-fpm Salzgitter Court for O.A.Ps
October

_ _ November 6th6030-8pm Preshbrook Commurdty Centre
our early history
by M. J, Stone of Swindon Museum
Little was known of the early history of that part of the Western Development known as
Toothill prior to 1973 when the development layouts were released. Members of the Museum
and Swindon Archaeological Society checked old records and walked most of the area, searching
for any signs of past human occupation. But owing to extensive grass cover, little was
observed, apart from the. oldvillage of Mannington, close to Toothill Farm.
Excavation and fieldwork during the development resulted in a mass of new information
which is still being looked at. From the plotting of the finds and examination of documents,
it is possible to sketch in the history of Toothill for the first time.
The earliest finds consist of flint cores and tools, most of which were collected from
the top of Toot Hill and close to the railway line. Examination of the flints suggests that
they may belong to the mesolithic period (c.10,000 to c.3,500 B.C.) when people of a nomadic
nature may well have camped on the hillside.
Nothing further is known until the late Iron Age period, when a small pit of unknown
nature was built near the top of Toot Hill. Evidence of the Roman-British period is common
on the slopes of Toot Hill. Just below Toot Hill, firm evidence of pottery kilns, buildings,
pits and ditches were observed during earth movements. Larger earth slips close by were
proved to be clay quarries from which the potters obtained their clay. Standing above this
was a substantial stone and timber building linked to a road. On the evidence of the coins
and pottery, it would seem that the pottery industry commenced in the late second century
A.D. and ran through into the fourth century A.D. 4
During the ninth or tenth century A.D., the small village of Mannington grew up. It is
first mentioned in 901 when in was called ' MEHANDUN ', meaning 'a hill or high ground' which
fits the topography well.
Observations on the ground indicated about twenty house platforms where the houses once
stood, and the village centre with roads running out into the fields. Two of the houses
were excavated and produced large amounts of twelfth/thirteenth century pottery, also iron
and bronze objects, one of which when cleaned has been identified as the seal matrix of the
standard of 'Thomas second son of RADVLFUS', the Earl of Hereford who once owned the land.
The village was possibly abandoned in the sixteenth century but later in 1773 a few houses
were still lived in. The farm is all that remains of the village prior to the modern build -
ing of Toothill.
Research is still going on and will be published some time in 1982. The best of the
finds will be put on display in Swindon Museum.

note!
The Workers Educational Association tried to put on a course called Q Toothills 29000
4
year history about two years ago. There was little interest at the-time. If anyone
would like to see the same course repeated in order to learn more about the local
history of the areas please contact R. Ogle, Community Development Officer 26161 x 3172