Page 20 - link magazine

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Volunteer delves into the archives for West schools

A keen local historian has set herself the ambitious task of producing local history study programmes for every primary school in the area.
Working on her own initiative, material on Swindon's railway =- sales details, deeds and con-
Fran Bevan, /eft. from Middleleaze history but I felt that the rural veyances, plus photographs
has written four projects and has and agricultural history of the " w 1 _; including aerial pictures ob-
another five to go. She was pic- more recently developed hous- (< tained from the NMRC.
tured in The Link in 2002 at Salt ing areas was neglected. 4 Fran paid for the first two
Way School. delivering her first "I have written the projects / projects herself, with small
work based on the history of nearby using a Victorian theme tocom- / contributions from relevant
Brook House Farm, known to many plimentthe Key Stage 2 history ( schools. A Millennium Lot-
as a pub and restaurant, but for curriculum which asks ques tery Award this year has cov-
many years a dairy farm. tions like what was it like for ered the cost of research ma-
Fran said her interest in the his- children living in Victorian Brit ' terials, photocopying and
tory of West Swindon began while ain, how did life change in our 7 printing so that she can now
working at Lower Shaw Farm, a locality in Victorian times and s — present her research to
building dating back to the 18th what was it like to live here in schools without charge.
Century. "There is a wealth of the past? ' Her current project is for
"The work is cross-curricular .___...__.._, ttti►ti^^r Westlea School focusing on
and I make suggestions for activi- focussed on Wick Farm and the Mannington Farm and the Strange
Do you need a hat but ties such as compile a graph corn- Clarke family, Brook Field School family history - tradesmen. bank-
paring Victorian and modern focussed on Lower Shaw Farm ers and leading lights in the non-
don't want to BUY one? names, sketching and painting the and Shaw House occupied by the conformist church of Swindon -
old buildings, sewing a Victorian wealthy Tuckey family, and Upper and the more humble Pitt family
Then call
sampler. report writing and per- Shaw Farm which was occupied who farmed the area for about 60
suasive writing, class debates and by the Sadler and Plummer fami- years
presentations." lies for Shaw Ridge School. Further projects are planned for
Hatter Fran has researched the history The work folders include copies Peatmoor, Toothill, Freshbrook,
The Ma A of the farm closest to each school of original documents for the chil- Windmill Hill and Oliver Tomkins
and the history of the family who dren to use with an explanation of Primary Schools.
In Haydon Wick
lived there during the Victorian pe- how to extract information from Fran gets huge reward from car-
(01793) 704005 or riod, and also a history of the parish them. She provides civil registra- rying out the research. "I love re-
07710 298790 of Lydiard Tregoze and Lydiard tion certificates (birth, marriage and searching the families, discover-
to see the large selection of Millicent which covered the area. death), census returns, pagesfrom ing how they all inter-married and
Hats to HIRE! Apart from Salt Way and Brook the parish registers of St Mary's, also the scandals. I think I've be-
House Farm, she has produced Lydiard Tregoze. excerpts from come a bit obsessive, apart from
Make a personal appointment
projects for Tregoze School Trade Directories, wills, property being quite nosy."
to find just the right hat for you
Butt [j.1\ VVc-) r[ Sty Grange
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Visit the tropics in Wiltshire, rain or shine, summer or winter. You can walk among
hundreds of the world's most beautiful butterflies, flying freely against a y
backdrop of tropical plants and skimming over fish filled ^•
pools. A truly magical experience
Aa
Kylie Night f`
A relaxing
3 a interesting and Saturday 9 October
educational day
out for all the Doors 7pm. Start 8.15pm
family
School groups &
r
` {`r F coach parties Looking & sounding like Kylie, Faye pays tribute
#^^ I .0=' ' ^ "
-^ ^^a welcome to Kylie Minogue plus one of Swindon's
top local bands Locomotion
Tickets: £8 members; £9 non-members. Food availabl
Open daily
Summer 10am - 6pm -r
Winter 9am - dusk ` "' Ladies Party Night Friday 17 December
Season f Cars available - Food access
mod aouca(ionel visits - Group vitsis welcome Get up close to
Large yin rnop - F,ea oa,king So, oars and eoaone: a Three course meal: two male strippers BOMBSHELL & BLADE
Tef:01793 852400 infostudleygrange.co.0 t some of the
largest and most plus Drag Queen JET BLACK followed by a disco all this fun for
- Papillon Cate
_ spectacular £26 per person (add £1 for Non Members). 7pm for 7.30pm.
^ l t =C. ' insects on the
R
^ ,^ planet.
- Free parking for
cars & coaches CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS
Papillon Cafe Start your Christmas Party celebrations
y
I MCraoivc pla for all Hot & cold snacks
Tel - 01793855566 Views of tropical with us. Choose from the
ff butte rfly garden following party dates: 770N
" uh4rit 8a 54
F,. ^^ t Kids Birthday Saturday 4 December v UMr^
parties catered
Friday 10 December 60MM R^
t Y i
^ Free admission Saturday 11 December t^l tt
GIN
^
I ^h to craft Village ^ Wednesday 15 December ^. f
-- .. Kids activity areas
L Thursday 16 December
Including model
Tel. 01793 854606 painting, ceramics Saturday 18 December Grange Drive
Other attractions at Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park include & stampin
Enjoy a three course meal then dance the Stratton
r ' a #L , Fully supervised
aoaa 4" night away with our disco all for £20 per St Margaret
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person (add £1 for no n-members) Tel: 825525
Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park, Hay Lane, Wroughton, Swindon,Wllts SN4 90T