See Swindon’s history come alive with Heritage Open Days

Taking place from this Friday (12 Sep) until Sunday 21 September, various locations across the Borough are throwing open their doors to share stories from the past.

This includes a number of council-owned venues with the local authority showcasing the history of Swindon and how it’s preserving the Borough’s heritage for future generations.

Activities taking place include:

• Tours showing the first phase of the Health Hydro regeneration
• Meet the mayor at the Civic Offices
• Heritage Apple Day at Lydiard Park
• Meet the architect behind iCAST at the Carriage Works
• What heritage can be: Swindon’s past, present and future

Alongside events being held at council venues, other historic locations are opening up to the public including the Bakers Arms in the Railway Village, Pattern Church on Penzance Drive and the Friends Meeting House on Eastcott Hill.

A number of talks and events are also taking place to showcase Swindon’s history and locations including the former canal, Railway Village life and the Battle of Ellendune.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: “Swindon has an incredible history and it’s great to see so many locations taking part in Heritage Open Days.

“Sometimes the place where we live and the things that are on our doorstep are the last ones we go out of our way to see, which is why it’s always surprising and often delightful to have a peek inside old buildings and hear the stories associated with them.

“This year the events are a bit more spread out than usual, which gives everyone the opportunity to see behind the scenes.

“When the Heritage Open Days are finished, or if you want to find out more, then our fabulous museums do a great job telling the stories of Swindon and its people.”

To find out more about the variety of events taking place across the Borough, visit the Heritage Open Days website and search ‘Swindon’.