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Redcliffe Street, SWINDON, SN2 2BY

Redcliffe Street. Now converted to residential.

Although this former public house, previously the Even Swindon Hotel, has been converted to apartments, the signage currently remains. It is sad to see that it has closed. In the 1970's and 1980's I spent many a happy hour in there, when it was a very busy and popular pub. Hopefully the sign with its welcome message, doesn't mean that residents get too many people calling and asking for a pint of best! Image

Originally providing hotel accommodation as the Even Swindon Hotel, presumably for visitors to the nearby railway works. Now converted to apartments. The building is noticeably out of scale with its neighbours.

This land, which was at one time part of the car park for the now closed Famous Ale House, seems to be in the process of redevelopment. This would almost certainly be for housing.

No. 9 was built as Cambrian Railways 1'11½"- gauge 2-6-2T No. 1213 1/1902, one of three for their Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge line. With all Cambrian stock No. 1213 was taken over by the GWR in 1922, renovated and returned to stock in 1924; on Nationalisation it remained No. 1213 under BR(WR), however it was renumbered No. 9 in 3/49 and named 'Prince Wales' in 6/56. After all standard-gauge steam locomotives had been withdrawn by August 1968, the three Vale of Rheidol narrow-gauge engines remained active on the line until 1989, when a private trust, the Vale of Rheidol Railway took it over and remains active in 2011. Here in 1954 No. 9 (ex-No. 1213) is rather lost in a corner of the great 'A' Shop, otherwise full of Big Engines being built or repaired.

Located on the corner of Redcliffe Street and Groves Street, this rather splendid late Victorian building, dating from 1899, is on a much larger scale than the contemporary neighbouring housing. It was built as a hotel and public house and was known as the Even Swindon Hotel and for many years was a Devenish house. In recent years it was known as The Famous Ale House but in 2013 permission was given for change of use to eight residential units. This has now taken place but the original signage currently remains. Unfortunately back street pubs, which this most definitely was, seem particularly vulnerable to closure. Image

On a Sunday no one at work, but an interesting selection of locomotives, left to right:- 'Castle' 4-6-0s Nos. 4075 'Cardiff Castle' and 5048 'Earl of Devon', LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 No. 46503, Gas-Turbine 0-6-6-0 No. 18000.

Western 1015 sits at the back of Swindon Works. At that time it was awaiting scrapping but has since been preserved. (1056 to the left).

The before picture of 25 years ago would be far more interesting. Note the brick retaining wall. This was the works boundary and I am standing in what was A Shop of Swindon Works closed in 1986. It was here that many locomotives were built over the years. This was a massive place and employed many. I wonder if many of the people who live here now know about the history of the past.

In 1986 BREL finally closed after 150 years. The site once was the main manufacturing facility for Brunel's GWR. 'A' shop was said to be the largest single factory building in Europe, a likelihood borne out by historic maps. The site was sold to developers and now comprises a mix of housing, shopping malls, leisure and commerce including the STEAM museum. http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/ 'A' shop was unable to be saved as it was deemed that its size, construction and configuration precluded it being able to be converted. The smaller building behind the engine boiler has been saved and is now a brewery. '34072' was a Battle of Britain' class loco named '257 Squadron'. It has subsequently been restored and is apparently now in the hands of the Swanage Railway. This image dates to 1987 shortly after demolition commenced and is submitted more for its historical value than its quality. Next image: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/318214