1
The Bulldog Swindon
Image: © John Firth
Taken: 10 May 2010
0.04 miles
2
Sussex Square, Walcot East, Swindon (1 of 7)
Sussex Square opened in the late 1950s as a mix of residential accommodation and retail outlets including a newsagent, two grocers, a greengrocer and a fish and chip shop. There was also a 'Common Room' (a community hall) with a branch lending library. I seem to recall that there was also a launderette. The square has had its day and is scheduled to be demolished and redeveloped. More below...
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 2 Jan 2014
0.04 miles
3
Not The Bulldog any more, Queens Drive, Swindon
Compare with this one from a few months ago
Image and it will be seen that the 1960s vintage pub has been erased from the face of the earth. I remember the pub with a few fond memories. Back in that decade friends and I from the local grammar (later comprehensive) school would occasionally have a few beers during lunch breaks. Alas, the school went the same way as the pub some time ago
Image
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 1 Mar 2012
0.05 miles
4
Across Queens Drive to the site of what was the Bulldog, Swindon
The former public house seen here
Image is no more. It has opened up the view for the properties in the background which are in Somerville Road. The future of the site is unclear. Plans to redevelop the 1960s Sussex Square shopping centre out of view behind the pub site have been mentioned in the local press.
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 1 Mar 2012
0.05 miles
5
The Bulldog, Queens Drive, Swindon
This is a slighter closer view of the doomed pub to the one seen here
Image There is perhaps a clue to one of the reasons why pubs like this are closing down to be seen on the wall of the petrol station at the left.
From the pages of the local newspaper, the Swindon Advertiser, dated 23 August 2011:
"THE BULLDOG pub in Walcot is a big step closer to being demolished after a deal was signed between Swindon Council and its owner.
The property, in Queen’s Drive, needs to be bought and bulldozed as a key part of the council’s planned regeneration of Sussex Square, which could include a supermarket.
And now Swindon Council has confirmed that it has agreed a deal with brewery Greene King to purchase the building and associated land, including the car park.
A Swindon Council spokesman said: “A deal has been signed with Greene King but it’s not yet finalised because there’s one or two legal things yet to be delivered.
“We have agreed what we are going to do but there are still some minor legal things to be sorted out before we can get the building.”
He added that there was not yet a timetable for acquiring the pub and no formal plans for the regeneration, although one of the options for the Bulldog site is a supermarket.
The regeneration plans came to light when resident Ted Ludford put in a Freedom of Information request to the Swindon Council after hearing rumours about the future of the pub and getting no response from Greene King.
The FOI confirmed that the council was negotiating the acquisition of the Bulldog as part of the site assembly process in connection with possible redevelopment of the area.
Mr Ludford, who has owned the Dream Recording and Rehearsal Studios for seven years, was interested in the future of the pub as his store is part of the same building and is leased by Greene King.
Peter Mallinson, who was a ward councillor for Walcot for six years and is chairman of the Walcot Community Shop in Sussex Square, supports the planned demolition.
He said: “Taken in relation to what’s planned, I think the council is justified in doing it.
“It’s not exactly a thriving pub. It has its regular people who use it in east Walcot, but it’s needed to make the site viable for regeneration.”
A spokeswoman for Greene King said that the contracts have been exchanged with the council and the pub will close, but she could not confirm the exact date yesterday."
Update March 2012: Not there now
Image
NOTE. This image has a detailed ‘shared description’ which you won’t see by viewing this image on a slideshow. To read it click on the image.
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 15 Sep 2011
0.05 miles
6
Across Queens Drive to the Bulldog, Swindon
The viewpoint is the service road that runs parallel to the main route into Swindon from the east. The pub closed recently and has been purchased by the Council who plan to demolish it as part of a regeneration scheme. The pub dates from the early 1960s and was intended to serve the nearby Walcot East housing estate.
From the pages of the local newspaper, the Swindon Advertiser, dated 23 August 2011:
"THE BULLDOG pub in Walcot is a big step closer to being demolished after a deal was signed between Swindon Council and its owner.
The property, in Queen’s Drive, needs to be bought and bulldozed as a key part of the council’s planned regeneration of Sussex Square, which could include a supermarket.
And now Swindon Council has confirmed that it has agreed a deal with brewery Greene King to purchase the building and associated land, including the car park.
A Swindon Council spokesman said: “A deal has been signed with Greene King but it’s not yet finalised because there’s one or two legal things yet to be delivered.
“We have agreed what we are going to do but there are still some minor legal things to be sorted out before we can get the building.”
He added that there was not yet a timetable for acquiring the pub and no formal plans for the regeneration, although one of the options for the Bulldog site is a supermarket.
The regeneration plans came to light when resident Ted Ludford put in a Freedom of Information request to the Swindon Council after hearing rumours about the future of the pub and getting no response from Greene King.
The FOI confirmed that the council was negotiating the acquisition of the Bulldog as part of the site assembly process in connection with possible redevelopment of the area.
Mr Ludford, who has owned the Dream Recording and Rehearsal Studios for seven years, was interested in the future of the pub as his store is part of the same building and is leased by Greene King.
Peter Mallinson, who was a ward councillor for Walcot for six years and is chairman of the Walcot Community Shop in Sussex Square, supports the planned demolition.
He said: “Taken in relation to what’s planned, I think the council is justified in doing it.
“It’s not exactly a thriving pub. It has its regular people who use it in east Walcot, but it’s needed to make the site viable for regeneration.”
A spokeswoman for Greene King said that the contracts have been exchanged with the council and the pub will close, but she could not confirm the exact date yesterday."
Update March 2012: The pub is no more
Image
NOTE. This image has a detailed ‘shared description’ which you won’t see by viewing this image on a slideshow. To read it click on the image.
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 15 Sep 2011
0.05 miles
7
New commercial development, Queens Drive, Swindon (1)
As recently as four years ago a public house stood on the site at centre right http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2602009 By March 2012 the site had been cleared http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2827374 Now a new building has been constructed. Future occupiers will include a Cooperative shop, a Subway outlet and a Barnardo's charity shop. More below
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 10 Sep 2015
0.05 miles
8
New commercial development, Queens Drive, Swindon (2)
This affords a closer look at the new development on the old Bulldog site seen here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4654255 More below...
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 10 Sep 2015
0.05 miles
9
Sussex Square, Walcot East, Swindon (7 of 7)
Sussex Square opened in the late 1950s as a mix of residential accommodation and retail outlets including a newsagent, two grocers, a greengrocer and a fish and chip shop. There was also a 'Common Room' (a community hall) with a branch lending library. I seem to recall that there was also a launderette. A charity that recycles furniture and household goods has taken over two of the original commercial units, one of which was once a greengrocer's shop. The square has had its day and is scheduled to be demolished and redeveloped. More below...
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 2 Jan 2014
0.05 miles
10
Rook, Sussex Square, Walcot East, Swindon
This fine corvid is enjoying a few rays of winter sunshine while perched on a convenient litterbin in the shopping centre.
Image: © Brian Robert Marshall
Taken: 2 Jan 2014
0.05 miles