IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Old Brewery Lane, SWINDON, SN1 3FQ

The tower and other remaining buildings of the brewery are grade II listed (list entry 1023486). it was linked with the Bell Hotel nearby.

These are typical of the modern residential flats in the Godwin Court development. Behind lies the much older Devizes Road.

Numbers 9 and 10 Devizes Road are described by English Heritage as 'The most complete remaining pair of houses in a street formerly lined by similar properties.' Now used as offices, this mid 19th century pair of houses is listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1198684 Old Town, on its hill above the 'new' railway town, is the cultural heart of Swindon. The old and the new combined into a single town in 1900.

Godwin Court is a very recent modern development of retail units and residential flats built on the former Devizes Road car park. There is a small car park included in this development but it no longer has vehicular access to and from Devizes Road. Many businesses in Old Town claim to have been badly affected by this and some have now disappeared, leaving more empty shops. The modern arch in this view gives pedestrian access from Devizes Road to Godwin Court. Devizes Road can be glimpsed through the arch. The white building on the left is The Pipers Arms pub, which was for many years known as The Fountain.

Mid 19th Century semi-detached houses on Devizes Road, named on the 1886 1:500 Town Plan as Frampton Villa and Albion Villa respectively. Grade II listed - see https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1198684?section=official-list-entry. Beyond are nos 11 & 12 - see Image for closer view.

Mid 19th Century semi-detached building on Devizes Road, attached to the terrace beyond. The writing on the near wall is indistinct, but a 2014 photo Image shows it to have once said: "H F V Cox, Agent for Usher's Ales & Stouts Telephone 217? Wines and Spirits".

Ushers brewery started life in Trowbridge in 1824 and was a prolific business until its demise in 2000. It's not unsurprising that this old sign remains, despite the fact that Swindon's Arkell family began their brewery in 1843 and remain in business today. See Image] for a wider contextual view.

For most of its long life, this pub was known as The Fountain. During the period 1884 to 1895 it was used by Swindon Town footballers to change into their football kit, as they were then using a ground with no changing facilities! In recent years it has had a very chequered career, with many changes in management and name. These names included Cartoons, The Rock Garden, The Hobgoblin and finally The Pipers Arms. Under the latter name the pub re-opened in August 2008, specifically as a pub aimed at gay people. Interestingly there was a period during its "Fountain" days, when it was regarded by some people as an unofficial "gay pub". The pub again closed in February 2009. The manager claimed it had been successful, but indicated there was a problem with the contractual arrangements with the owners, Enterprise Inns plc. At that time Enterprise Inns were reported to be seeking a new tenant, and the pub was, not for the first time, boarded up. Now the pub bears a sign saying the freehold is for sale. Image Update (August 2010): In the summer of this year, the pub re-opened under new ownership. The name changed, yet again, and is now The Pig on the Hill. Image

Closed since February 2009, this pub was known for most of its life as The Fountain. The building itself is quite attractive, and hopefully it will not be too long before it comes into use again. For a bit more of its history see:- Image The pub re-opened in the summer of 2010 as The Pig on the Hill. See:- Image

A mix of free parking, for up to 90 minutes, as long as you shop at the Co-op, and pay and display parking. Confusing to many.