Page 36 - link magazine

The Swindon Society:
36
B k1VOIR c.1908, before it was demolished ten
Pictured right is the Gold Lion Bridge
years later. A sculpture of a watchful
P R(I) P E RT Y lion now marks the spot on Canal
Walk, opposite BHS. The bridge was
MANAGEMENT built in 1877 to replace a wooden
swing bridge over the North Wilts
Section of the Wilts and Berks Canal
DO YOU which ran through the town.
The Great Western Railway Com-
WANT TO LET pany bought the canal in the 1870s
to put it out of business. By the
YOUR HOUSE? beginning of the century the derelict
waterway had deteriorated through
u Free impartial advice on all lack of use and had became an eye-
aspects of residential letting. sore.
r Several plans were put forward for Over the last few years, volun-
Management of all repairs
and maintenance to owners the canal including a proposal in the stand. Due to the cost, this idea was teers belonging to the Wilts and Berks
early 1900s to create a water feature soon forgotten. Eventually the canal
instructions.
promenade, complete with band- was filled in during the 1920s. Canal Amenity Group have been re-
Full specialised buildings, storing the canal and have dreams of
Rgnt Str,ct Cil nd 1'ro,'urr,,dc, Swn.
contents, rent and legal A, k eventually reconnecting large sec-
protection insurance services. tions. What a different place Swin-
don would be if the waterway still
A 'Buy to Let' Mortgage existed.
scheme.
Another feature lost to the town is
Belvoir is an approved
agency for HM Forces the tram system that connected the
town centre with Old Town,
relocation and specilises with Rodhourne and Gorse Hill. The pic-
the needs of service personnel.
ture below was taken on the opening
With offices across the UK. day of the tram system, 22 Septem-
ber 1904, at the junction of Bridge
Phone or Fax: Street and Fleet Street.
01249 760670 Like canals, there are suggestions
that another old form of transport
E-mail [email protected]
http://www.belvoirgroup.com reappears in Swindon with the build-
ing of a modern tram system.
WE'RE BIGGER

THAN YOU THINK

Bedroom
Home
Co-ordinates Showroom

COULD YOU DE A SOCIAL HISTORIAN?
The members of The Swindon Society are all volunteers - ordinary men
and women who have shown an interest in the town. Bearing in mind
their motto: 'History starts yesterday,' it is happening all the time and
much is being lost.
nathan Parker Knoll The Link has long been concerned that West Swindon's history has
not been systematically recorded since the first people moved in 21
Wdh,,,
LA-Z-BOY SIbefIafld STRONG BOW years ago. Likewise the Northern Expansion is shooting up and there
is historical information which should be recorded as the development
YOUR OLD SUITE & OCCASIONAL FURNITURE takes place. It's only in the future that people will look back.
All it takes is a few people to commit themselves to investigating and
BED DISPOSED OF FIRESIDE CHAIRS
setting up a recording system. For example, The Link has several
Spillers Furnishings & Bed Centre thousand photographs we would love to put into somebody's caring
hands to archive and display from time to time.
ESTABLISHED 1843 • SERVING SWINDON FOR OVER 150 YEARS The Swindon Society meets for discussions, presentations and slide
shows on the second Wednesday of the month - September to June -
132 Victoria Road, Old Town, Swindon
at the Broad Green Centre, Swindon. To find out more, contact Jean
Tel: (01793) 522329/541146 Allen, secretary, on 528418.
The family business that really cares Our thanks to David Bedford and Sheila Povey
for access to their photographic collections.