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Devizes Road, SWINDON, SN1 4BH

Row of mid 19th Century houses on Devizes Road.

The house was built ca. 1840 and was the town's police house for many years. The occupier was not only the Police Superintendent but also the Inspector of Nuisances and Assistant Relieving Officer for Vagrants. Source: 'Swindon. An Illustrated History' Mark Child, Breedon Books, 2002.

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.

Buildings on Devizes Road. Nos 17 - 20, on the right, are a row of date from the mid 19th Century while the church (originally known as the Bible Institute and Church) is more recent, dating from around 1920.

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".

Swindon Evangelical Church in Devizes Road. 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.

Modern commerce continues apace: however, the past can sometimes linger, as shown by this old sign. See Image] for a closer look.

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.

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.

This is a view to the south-east along what is the A361 at this point. The impressive-looking brick frontage is the Bible Institute and Church, a movement that believes the Bible is literally true. Behind the frontage is a large prefabricated building with a corrugated asbestos roof.