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Swindc r Wide
Free heritage treats at Lydiard
Purton House, Church End, Purton,
Wiltshire SN5 4EB • Tel: 01793 772287 On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September historic properties all over
Britain celebrate the nation's heritage with free open days. This is a
www.purton-house.co.uk wonderful opportunity to visit Lydiard House and Park, the beautiful St
Mary's Church and discover through talks, walks and atreasure hunt the
rich history of the park which dates back to Medieval times. writes Sarah
gvrWf, on, ^ovv^oovst^^
Or^yaru^ Finch-Crisp, keeper of the house.
Call us for details about joining The collections at Lydiard are
continually being added to as we
our Organic Box Scheme continue to trace more of the origi-
Vegetables • Fruit • Meat • Eggs nal family furnishings and belong-
Local deliveries & drop off points in Swindon. Cirencester, ings. Members of the St John fam-
Wootton Bassett. Broad Hinton, Marlborough. Wroughton ily have recently donated a Victo-
rian child's seat, an elaborate sil-
ver baby's rattle and cutlery which
was used to instruct a young child
how to hold their knife and fork
correctly.
It's also a particularly good time
to come because of archaeologi-
cal projects carried out over the
summer.
• There will free entry on Saturday
11th. 10am to 5pm. Sunday 12th,
11 am to 5pm. A grand family treas-
ure hunt takes place on Sunday
between 11 am and 4pm Connecting Lydiard
In the church with Swindon schools
If you have not set eyes on the Swindon teacher. Kim Hazzard,
magnificent St John family life size has joined the Lydiard Park Project
painted triptych in St. Mary's, Herit- team to expand education oppor-
age Weekend is your chance. This tunities on the site and develop
rare monument will be unlocked exciting new school programmes
alongside the Golden Cavalier, which link in with the major resto-
right, and the huge alabaster monu- ration scheme for Lydiard's his-
ment which Sir John St John toric parkland.
erected for himself and his two Enabling local schools to benefit
wives in the 17th Century. and become involved in the resto-
• The church will be open on Sat- ration as it takes place is an impor-
urday 11th, 10am to 5pm (with tant part of the the Heritage Lottery
closure at midday for a wedding). funded scheme.
p i-'vi' -e ... C^ Restoring the lake and garden by an award from The Ernest Cook
Kim's post, which is supported
One of the major aspects of the
Trust, covers all areas of the 260
Lydiard Park restoration is the re-
acre park and its historic features
instatement of the lake, now much and buildings. It has enormous
overgrown at the bottom of the scope for exciting school sessions
lawn. for pupils of all ages.
r'I. learn from Jonathan Hinks from teachers about involving their
Over Heritage Weekend you can
Kim would like to hear from
Swindon-based engineering com-
school. She can be reached at
pany Halcrow, and the project's
Lydiard House, tel: 770401 or mail:
lead consultant, historic landscape
architect Simon Bonvoisin how the hazzard@ swindon.gov.uk
Kim. in front of the stab/es. to be
lake can be restored.
used as the Lydiards education
Archaeological investigations,
g p •••Rod test pits in the old lake bottom. rooms
topographical surveys and struc-
Ye'` Ye,^ah tural analysis of the dam wall have
all contributed to Halcrow's engi-
Zgth September neering solutions.
Detailed plans have also been
drawn up to replant Lydiard's 18th
Century walled garden and later in
Enjoy tribute songs from Stan Terry as Rod Stewa rt the month Simon Bonvoisin and
together with a 4 course candle lit dinner. John Sales, former director of gar-
dens at the National Trust, will be
Tel: 01793 721701 opening the garden to the pubic
and talking about these restora-
tion proposals
Bern Western
Blunsdon House Hotel • Lost Lake Tours: Saturday 11
September, 11 am and 2pm
• Plotting the Walled Garden: 30
www. blunsdonhouse. co. uk September. 12.15pm