Page 21 - link magazine

Project -Update 21

The surveys, investigations and detailed design plans being pro-
duced will underpin a second bid in January 2005 to the Heritage
Lottery fund for a further £3 million. If successful this will enable
full restoration work to begin.
Living history at Lydiard
On 9 July
around 300
Swindon sec-
ondary school
pupils from
Greendown,
Kingsdown,
Church fields.
Crowdys Hill
and St Lukes
took part in a
special Living
History Project
designed to inspire by bringing to Local business celebrates the
life the history of Lydiard Park in
Lydiard project
the 17th Century.
Pupils came face to face with a On 15 July the Department of Cul-
Civil War cavalry man on horse- ture Media and Sport hosted an
back and a musket man. learned event at Lydiard to celebrate the
how to use a pike and discovered successful partnership between
the stories behind the portraits in Swindon Council and RWEnpower
the house and the monuments in (formerly Innogy) on the Lydiard
St Mary's Church. project.
One group also got the chance They are joint award winners of
to get their hands dirty and joined Arts and Business New Partners
in the excavations with Wessex investment - the organisation's flag-
Archaeology. ship scheme designed for busi-
The Living History Project was nesses to try new initiatives - with
made possible with funding from A & B footing the bill.
the Ernest Cook Trust who are Mike Bowden, Executive Direc-
supporting education involvement torof AWE npower. many of whose
in The Lydiard Park Project. staff have swapped their offices for
Coun Nick Martin. Chair of the volunteering in the park, and also
Lydiard Park Project Board, com- provided project management ex-
mented, "I am delighted that so pertise, said, "this is a great oppor-
many local secondary school chil- tunity to work on a project that has
dren are discovering the rich his- national prestige, involves a broad
tory of Lydiard in such an imagina- range of business partners in a
tive way and that they are directly vision that has a dramatic and posi-
benefiting from the exciting resto- tive impact on Swindon, its com-
ration project developments". munity and the environment."

Project events & activities in August
All events are free but pre-booking (B) is required for some.
Call 770401 to reserve a space.
24 July to 31 August. Picture the Park. Children's colouring
competition and display in the visitor centre.
6 August, 6.30pm. Avenues and Acres. A summer evening
stroll with lead landscape adviser. Simon Bonvoisin, to explore the
wider parkland, looking at the proposals to improve the paths network The Lawn, Old Town.
and reinstate Lydiard's lost trees. Meet at visitor centre. (B)
11 August, 2pm. Ice House Chill. Find out about ice production in Swindon,
the 18th Century and plans to restore Lydiard's ice house with building
archaeologist. Gerry Sampson. Meet at Visitor Centre. (B) I Oam-5pm
14 August, 11am. Cavaliers & Kings. Glimpse Lydiard's
1 7th Century heritage on a tour of the house, church and park Tel. 466324
with Sarah Finch-Crisp. Meet at the house entrance. (B)
www.forestweb.org.uk
31 July to 5 September. BBC TV Charles II Costume Exhibition
in the house.
In the elegant State Rooms of Lydiard House. see the authentic
costumes worn by Rufus Sewell. Diana Rigg, Shirley Henderson and
others in the much talked about 2003 BBC production Charles II. E Swinrrnn
nos'
A painting of King Charles's notorious mistress Barbara Villiers,
1k. Natum1 . 'V F. , ( .. t•,.•-'^-sp
a member of the St John family of Lydiard, will be seen in the
State Bedroom alongside costumes worn by Helen McCrory The ^aje
Countryside
who played her role in the TV series. Countryside Forestry Commission of wMne horse
Agency
Admission charge: £2/21: under 5s free.