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Queen Street, SWINDON, SN1 1RN

The junction of Bridge Street and Fleet Street, taken in 1967. This junction was locally known as 'The Centre', with Burtons on one corner and a shoe shop [Simpsons?] on the other. One of those wonderful Daimler double deck buses belonging to Swindon Corporation is on its way up Bridge Street towards Regent Circus. That could be a Morris Oxford series 6 passing the bus.

The red painted building is a branch of Revolution, a national chain of "vodka bars". It is spread over two floors, plus there is a "vodka terrace". Parties and the hosting of functions and events are the chain's speciality. It is typical of the new breed of large bars and pubs selling alcohol on the premises, which have sprung up in town centres across the country in the past decade. Swindon seems to have had an extra helping of them, as around this part of the town they completely dominate the retail scene, overflowing onto the pedestrianised area with tables and seats. It is perhaps no surprise that the much smaller traditional pubs find it difficult to compete against this. The Flag (formerly the Lamb & Flag) on the opposite side of the street, has now closed. It was probably here in Victorian times, and was the last traditional pub in the immediate vicinity.

A huge charity shop, selling furniture, household goods, and electrical goods. Is this a sign of the times? See Image]

North of Canal Walk. The far end of this street, and beyond, has been zoned to house contemporary bars and nightclubs.

The name of this tower of offices and council flats honours the last town clerk to the county borough of Swindon, from 1937-1974. He was the force behind Swindon's successful application for expansion under the Town Development Act 1952 and the industrial diversification of a town previously dominated by the railway works. This building, completed in 1976, was also his idea. Designed by Douglas Stephen and Partners, it is unrivalled on the skyline of Swindon and in my view thoroughly deserves to be.

The Golden Lion Inn was an early 19th century pub, which arrived following the building of the Wilts & Berks Canal. What is now Canal Walk, follows part of the canal's route, and the pub was built overlooking it. I can vaguely remember the pub as a boy, and the sculpture of a Golden Lion, which by then had been put in front of the pub. There had previously been a Golden Lion pub in Wood Street Old Town, in the 18th century, but that had closed long before the one by the canal was built. That pub closed in 1956, and the sculpture was put into storage by the Council. Unfortunately the storage conditions caused it to start to crumble, so this replica was made to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's ascent to the throne. It was placed in Canal Walk, in 1978, on the spot where the original had been, although facing the wrong way. It stayed there for a good many years, but has now been moved to Bridge Street, even though there is plenty of spare room for it in Canal Walk. Image Image

The inscription on the side of this sculpture doesn't tell the full story. Originally the lion was above the doorway to the long demolished Golden Lion Inn, but following the introduction of electric trams to Swindon in 1904, it was noticed that when one passed nearby, it caused the lion to vibrate. As a result, he was taken down and moved into the garden, and later moved again, outside the front of the pub, near the canal. Now the pub, the original lion, the canal and the trams, are all gone, and all we are left with is this replica, recently moved to the wrong street. For more information about this replica, and other pictures, please see:- Image