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Marlborough Road, SWINDON, SN3 1QW

Car sales business located in The Old Stables, on the corner of Marlborough Road and Old Mill Lane.

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.

Much has changed here over the last sixty years. At one time the camera position would have been close to the entrance to Green's Garage which I think sold Rootes group cars. A little further down at the point where the pedestrian is, there was once a Tudor style 19th century lodge cottage at the entrance to The Planks. Opposite is a car sales centre, which I believe has now gone in favour of a development of apartment buildings, and where the line of cars [extreme right] can be seen behind the hedge there was once a stone built detached house of the mid 19th century where this contributor lived many years ago. Marlborough Road was originally the A345 and was the main road into the town from the south, but it has now been downgraded to B4289.

Where and what was the 'old mill'?

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

This modern residential street is a turning off Old Mill Lane, and leads up to a lane called The Planks. In the distance is a building with a tower, which was formerly the Corn Exchange. Later it became The Locarno. Since this photograph was taken, the building was badly damaged by fire. There have been plans to restore it as part of a wider development but it was reported by the BBC and the local press, in March 2009, that companies linked with the plans were in administration. Hopefully someone will restore it, as Swindon has already lost a lot of interesting buildings in this area.

An unusual form of stile by the new residential development Mill Court. Not well marked, it is a footpath.

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.

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