IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Oakie Close, SWINDON, SN25 4WN

A strip of woodland extending off the Seven Fields Nature Reserve. Possibly preserved as an environmental amenity, but more likely because it's on a slope too steep to build on. Whatever the reason, it's a nice bit of green amongst all the houses.

Penhill Copse, situated between Penhill and Abbey Meads, is the main wooded area of the Seven Fields Nature Reserve, which was established in 1995.

Penhill Copse is the main wooded area of Seven Fields Nature Reserve, which was established in 1995. This small wood is situated between the Penhill and Abbey Meads housing estates.

This a view further down the hill into the valley on the northern edge of Penhill. In the far distance on the skyline is the much more recent northern development area.

Abbey Meads is part of the very large Northern Development Area of Swindon. The area is bisected by a spine road called Thamesdown Drive which runs roughly north-east to south-west north of the established parts of Swindon. Development is taking place north and south of Thamesdown Drive. Elstree Way is south of it. The road leading off to the left is Wynwards Road.

Melksham Close is at the northern edge of Penhill. The estate was developed in the early to mid 1950s by the local council. I understand it had been intended to complete the estate a few hundred metres south of here but circumstances made the council decide to carry on down the northern slope of the hill the estate is mainly built upon. This northern extension became known as 'the valley' and soon acquired something of a poor reputation where it was suspected 'problem families' were housed. I have no way of knowing whether that is true or, if it is, was a deliberate policy on the part of the Housing department. It is true that there have been instances of some properties in the valley having been used as crack houses.

This pleasant suburban location is a crime scene. For some weeks cars parked hereabouts have been vandalised in an unusual fashion by having their anti-lock braking systems attacked. The perpetrators remained unidentified until recently when an off-duty police officer found teeth marks on the damaged parts of his car's brakes. Further forensic investigations confirmed that the offenders were of American extraction and members of the notorious Sciurus crime family http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/8456675.Furry_vandal_drives_police_nuts/

Penhill is a local authority housing estate developed in the early to mid 1950s. Swindon Borough Council took advantage of the Town Development Act 1952 to expand at a rapid rate in the post-war years. The theme for the naming of the roads and closes in the estate is Wiltshire towns and villages. Avebury is famous for its old rocks http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/567773

Penhill is a local authority housing estate developed in the early to mid 1950s. Swindon Borough Council took advantage of the Town Development Act 1952 to expand at a rapid rate in the post-war years. Most of Penhill sits on relatively high ground in the northern part of the town but falls away north into a valley through which a small watercourse runs. Minety Road takes the visitor into the valley.