IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Wilmers Mews, SWINDON, SN3 1FY

Housing close to the site of the engine shed at the former Swindon Town railway station.

Another brownfield site development, this one, still incomplete, is on the site of a car dealership. I'm no architect but this does seem to be an attractive design with the different colours used to break up the uniformity of the terrace.

On the site of Swindon Town Station Image

The former Swindon Town Station on the Midland and South Western Junction railway that ran from Cheltenham to Andover. The gentleman standing on the platform will be waiting a long time for a passenger train as these were withdrawn in the early 1960's. By 1968 the only remaining traffic was to the oil depot just beyond the station, from the link with the main line at Rushey Platt, and even this was discontinued a few months after this photo was taken. The station itself is already in a sorry state in this picture with the buildings on the far platform in an advanced state of dereliction.

Opened in 1881 by the Swindon Marlborough and Andover Railway, later part of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway, this station closed to passengers in 1961. View south east towards Chiseldon and Marlborough. The site has been redeveloped with Signal Way following the course of the tracks at this point.

This was the site of the livestock market, commemorated by a ram statue http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3851037 behind the camera.

Marlborough Road was and remains one of the main routes to and from the town. However its character here has changed over the last ten to fifteen years. At the left is fairly new housing, Mill Court. Beyond that the building with the mansard roof is Ashlar Court. Both developments cater, I think, mainly for retired people. Before this development occurred there was a large car dealership here called Greens who held the Chrysler franchise for a while. The cottages on the right are relatively old, early 19th century. They are within the Old Town conservation area and are listed http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=318785

The imposing building on the right behind the advertising board was once, I believe, occupied by a prominent veterinary surgeon. Then it became the offices of a car dealership. The dealership vacated the site some years ago and re-located. Since then the building has been left unoccupied.

A development of residential properties on a site which was once a livestock market, the clue being the small statue of a sheep at the entrance. Market days were on Monday and the livestock market was one reason why what is now Old Town developed as the original Swindon, which loosely translates as 'pigs on the hill'. Somewhere here by the old market entrance was a small shop where one could buy a chocolate bar for 4d.

A row of 3 old stone-built cottages, which at one time would have been on the edge of the original town. Next in line is a large modern apartment block which stands on the site of a long since demolished 19thC stone house where this contributor once lived. and beyond that again is a large stone-built property which I believe is now Grade II listed