IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Kent Road, SWINDON, SN1 3NW

Ordnance Survey cut mark benchmark described on the Bench Mark Database at http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm40444

The nearest house, #47, has an OS benchmark Image on its front near corner

The road ends at the boundary of the cemetery seen in this image http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/965694

I must have passed this former pub many times in my youth, but its name escapes me. It stands on the corner of Hythe Road and Maidstone Road in an area that was developed around 1900 as Old Town gradually crept down the hill towards the ever expanding New Town below. It now appears to be apartments.

Late 19th century development between the old and new towns

Stafford Street is late Victorian. It was developed in a time of considerable expansion following the establishment of the Great Western Railway factory in the mid 19th century.

This is just one of many streets built in the years following Brunel's decision to build a huge railway works in Swindon in the mid 19th century. Deacon Street is one of a grid of very similar streets that connect the 'Old Town' on a hill to the south-east of the viewpoint, and the 'New Town' of which the grid is part. The green area in the centre of the image is Radnor Street cemetery. Image

Poor Esther was a barmaid at a public house not far from here. She met a tragic end by being shot to death by her former fiancé at the tender age of 19 106 years ago yesterday. Her killer was one Edward Richard Palmer, aged 24. He was 'convicted at Wiltshire Assizes before Mr Justice Wills of the murder of Esther Swinford at Swindon. Miss Swinford was employed as a barmaid and had been engaged to Palmer. She had broken off their intended union when she discovered that he had made no plans to secure their financial future. Palmer left town but later returned with a gun and shot her through the heart when she refused to reconsider their engagement. He was immediately arrested and told officers: 'I did it. I loved her.' Hanged by William and John Billington on the 17th November 1903 in Devizes.' From real-crime.co.uk The inscription can be read here Image The pub where the murder took place can be seen in this image Image

The grave has very recently been restored having been derelict for many years. This is the state the grave was in http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/3774096439/in/set-72157621757273407/

Looking along Kent Road.