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Swindon Wide

Protecting our heritage must be a priority

By Graham Carter of Swindon But how do we satisfy that
Heritage magazine awkward third aim? What can we
Do you want the good news or the do to safeguard it?
bad news? In the face of some disappointing
Many a light-hearted decisions and actions by Swindon
conversation has begun like this, Borough Council since we
but when you publish a magazine published our winter edition, we
about Swindon’s heritage, deciding are faced with the dilemma of how
on whether to deliver good news or to handle all that bad news in our
bad news is crucial. spring edition.
When we founded our magazine So much has happened since
in 2013, it was a determined we last went to print that a new
attempt to be positive about our organisation has even been formed
town, because we genuinely feel as a response, the Facebook group
proud of Swindon, its people Save Swindon’s Heritage rapidly Swindon’s last tram could be moving back to the town
and their achievements, and we drawing in more than a thousand
strongly believed our heritage was members because of the proposed
being understated. conversion of the Health Hydro the spotlight on the national
With four years and now (with into flats and other threats to our importance of the Health Hydro, as
the publication of our new Spring heritage. well as reporting on the appalling
2017 edition) seventeen 84-page So it would be wrong of us to handling of the aftermath of the
editions under our belts, we are concentrate only on the positives fire at the Agricultural Museum at
still finding plenty of positive in the town’s heritage when so Coate.
things to say about our amazingly many of us feel powerless and We run the risk of being accused
rich heritage. angry about the negative things by councillors of putting undue
And we are the bearers of good that are happening in Swindon. emphasis on the bad news about
news again, including the opening We aim to safeguard heritage - heritage in Swindon, but if that
of a mini-museum at Highworth; as our mission statement demands happens it will not be the first time.
the latest on the ambitious - by speaking up when we think As a self-funded, not-for-profit
project to restore the glories of the local authority is getting it CIC (community interest company)
the exquisite St Mary’s Church at wrong, and by restoring balance where everyone who puts the
Lydiard Tregoze; and a makeover when we think councillors are magazine together or organises
for Christ Church. given ample opportunity to put our projects and events does it
We are also excited about our their side of the story in the local voluntarily, we are united by our spring
role in moving forward the dream press. mission to celebrate our heritage edition will emphasize
of bringing Swindon’s last tram But sometimes just getting to the and promote a better image for why it is time for attitudes to
back to the town. heart of the history does the trick Swindon. change in Swindon, where heritage
So there are plenty of reasons to of educating people about why it is And if doing our bit to safeguard is sometimes cast as a liability by
be cheerful, and it all fits nicely special, and that is the first step to it also means not just educating but a cash-strapped Council, when we
with two thirds of our mission, safeguarding it. sometimes also speaking out, then would all benefit if we simply saw
which is “to celebrate, promote So in our new edition we reveal so be it. it for the huge asset that it is.
and safeguard Swindon’s heritage”. new research that is putting Hopefully the pages of our new www.swindonheritage.com
Discover Swindon’s Roman roots opened by Sarah Rose Troughton,
the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and
By Roger Ogle Park in Toothill during the early introduced by Bryn Walters, who
It’s always been known Swindon 1970s, found about 40 pottery has spent most of his archaeological
has connections to the Roman era, kilns and in 2004, a dig took place life working on the Roman town at
but most people will be amazed at Groundwell Ridge. Now that Wanborough and associated villas.
how much evidence there is of expansion is moving eastward, the Wiltshire County Archaeologist
Romano-British life in the area. day will also look at the Roman Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger will
And for the first time in Swindon, town of Duroconovium south of review recent Iron Age and Roman
on 18 March, a day is being Wanbrough which was researched archaeological projects in the area
organised to bring together experts in the 70s and 80s. ahead of new housing developments, An archaeology student from
Chippenham College revealing a
who have been involved in digs “During the Iron Age and Roman whilst Dave and Kerry Sabin of
over the last 30 years. times, the whole area was covered Archaeological Surveys will present Roman Mosaic discovered at South
Farm, near Chiseldon in the late 90s
Organiser Mike Stone of in small farms. The Romans were results of their work south of
the Association for Roman keen on this part of the country Highworth and around the town. history organisations.
Archaeology, said:. “We had and the local tribal chiefs made Dr Pete Wilson, of Historic England, The Romans in Swindon Day
many requests to focus on the the area wealthy; the large houses who supervised the excavations at School takes place on Saturday
archeology of the Swindon area and villas designed in the Roman Groundwell Ridge in North Swindon, 18 March, 10am to 4pm, at the
which includes digs in Highworth, style is evidence of this. The Oxford will talk about the work there in Marriott Hotel, Old Town. Tickets
Purton, Chiseldon and as far out as clay that everybody knows from advance of the publication of a book are £30, to include tea and coffee
Minety. You will be really surprised their gardens was exploited by the about the findings. and a hot buffet lunch. To book
how much a centre of Roman life pottery works to supply demand Mike will also talk about Roman a place, write to Mike Stone, 26
Swindon is and we really want for storage pots and tiles; indeed industry in the area, ranging from Awdry Cose, Chippenham SN14
people who live here to find out Minety had the second largest stone quarrying, ceramic building 0TQ, enclosing a cheque for £30
more about important local history works in the country supplying materials and the potting industry. per person attending made out to
from 2,000 years ago. building materials.” The event will include stands from ‘Wiltshire Victoria County History
“Surveys and excavations at Kiln Romans in Swindon will be a variety of archaeological and Trust’ or mail: [email protected]
28 swindonlink.com n March 2017

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