IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Swindon Street, SWINDON, SN6 7FE

Number 4 Swindon Street is 18th century although the glazed bay is 20th century. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1355929

In the foreground is Lechlade Road, the road coming in on the left is High Street, and ahead is Swindon Street. The latter is surprisingly wide for an old street. It is believed there was at one time a row of cottages down the centre. If so, this would explain the width. Swindon Street long ago formed part of a cattle drove road between Exmoor and the Midlands.

This fine chapel is dated 1825 and is set back from High Street. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1023358

Coming from Swindon

This location, on the corner of High Street and Swindon Street, was where the Co-operative had its food store, prior to relocating to new premises in Brewery Street Highworth. Currently Betfred, a bookmaker, have a branch here. Image

Jesmond House is the building on the left. The carriage arch next to it gives access to a car parking area at the rear, which is/was exited via Cricklade Street. For at least a century the building has been in use as a hotel/bar/restaurant in some shape or form. It was long known as Jesmond House Hotel, then as Jesmonds of Highworth. For the last year or so it has been known as The Highworth. The building is Grade II listed and the listing claims it dates from 1721. Elsewhere an earlier date of 1665 has been put forward. The postal address is 1 Westrop, but generally this bit of road is considered part of Lechlade Road. Image Image Image

Jesmond House is the building on the left. Currently in use as an hotel and restaurant known as The Highworth. Long ago it was known as Prospect House, and was at one time the home of Mr S. B. Burton, famous for church repairs and architecture. The building on the right is The White House. This was built in the early 18th century for George Farr, a maltster. More photos:- Image

This carriage arch gives access to a car parking area at the rear, which is used by patrons of The Highworth, which is the hotel & restaurant business carried on in Jesmond House. It may well be used by adjoining properties too, but I have no information on that. Thirty years or so ago, when Jesmond House Hotel, as it was then known, was as much a pub as a hotel, I can recall that the exit from the car park was into Cricklade Road, which may well still be the case. More photos:- Image

There used to be quite an attractive sign here, so it is strange that now the business here is called "The Highworth", it should be advertised by such a drab and insipid sign. The ornate frame however is quite attractive. The sign gives the postal address of 1 Westrop, although most people and maps regard this as being part of Lechlade Road. More photos:- Image