Swindon Heritage Preservation

Swindon Heritage Preservation Supporting our Community and Preserving our Heritage. We seek to maximise our social impact through the use of our buildings.

We are a building preservation Trust that combines community usage with building restoration; conservation and history. You can hire our facilities, visit our Museum and get involved in our events and projects that take place all year round. We look after a number of buildings in Emlyn Square, the heart of Swindon's Railway Village:

Central Community Centre

This former GWR Medical Fund Hospita

l now operates as a thriving community centre which hosts a variety of group activities and events. Railway Village Museum

Step back in time at Swindon’s Railway Village Museum, 34 Faringdon Road, and find out how Victorian railway workers lived. Operated by the Mechanics' Institution Trust, we are volunteer-run and are always looking for more support. If you’re interested please email [email protected]. Bakers Cafe

This former bakery and Public House now operates as a community space, hosting a number of group activities including a free coffee morning every Wednesday between 10am and 1pm. Why not stop by for a coffee and a chat? Cricketers Arms

This former public house is in need of restoration - and that is why we are here! This is our current building preservation project where we hope to bring this building back into use for the good of the community. What would you like to see it used for? Community Garden

We also have a community garden, which our team of volunteers look after so that we can grow food for community use. The allotment supports a number of groups to socialise and gain new skills. We also host a variety of events all year round. If you have any ideas, or if you would like to get involved, please contact [email protected]. You can join our community as a member or a volunteer by completing this enquiry form:
https://forms.gle/XrNujUoZfQCAozv89

23/06/2026

Due to the extreme heat, we will not be opening The Bakers' Community Café on Wednesday 24th to protect our staff and customers. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you next Wednesday, 10:30 - 16:30 🍰☕️

ON THIS DAY IN... 2018Swindon's extraordinary medical history took center stage with the unveiling of a heritage blue pl...
16/06/2026

ON THIS DAY IN... 2018

Swindon's extraordinary medical history took center stage with the unveiling of a heritage blue plaque at the Health Hydro on Milton Road.

Built in 1892, the GWR Medical Fund HQ & Baths pioneered a community-led healthcare system that helped inspire the creation of the NHS in 1948. The 2018 unveiling permanently cemented this building's status as a true cradle of modern British public health.

Explore the transformation of the Health Hydro and the rich history that surrounds it through our gallery on The Work's website. From rare archive images to pictures of the restoration, these photos capture the past, present and future of one of Swindon’s most remarkable landmarks.

https://theworksswindon.co.uk/healthhydro/gallery/

ON THIS DAY IN... 2000Swindon's cultural landscape changed forever when the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway op...
13/06/2026

ON THIS DAY IN... 2000

Swindon's cultural landscape changed forever when the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway opened its doors to the public for the very first time.

By transforming an original, historic railway workshop into an immersive museum, the launch ensured that the stories of industrial giants, iconic steam locomotives and the incredible workforce of the Swindon Works would be preserved for generations to come.

Decades later, it remains a world-class site for engineering enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

If you haven’t made plans for this evening yet, we’ve got you covered. Tonight at 7:30 PM, join us at the Bakers’ Café f...
11/06/2026

If you haven’t made plans for this evening yet, we’ve got you covered.

Tonight at 7:30 PM, join us at the Bakers’ Café for a brilliant evening with Gareth Powell from Historic England.

He’ll be explaining The Missing Pieces Project, a initiative to get your local photos, memories, and hidden family stories added to the National Heritage List for England. From the historic building on your street corner to your favourite day-trip spots, your perspective is the part that’s been missing.

Whether you've got an old photo to share or just want to hear some great local history, we’d love to see you there!

⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Bakers’ Café, SN1 5BN
💰 Admission: SHP Full Members: FREE or Guests: £5.00 (payable on the door)

No need to pre-book - just bring your curiosity (and maybe a friend)! See you tonight! ☕🧩

🗓️ ON THIS DAY IN 1838 – The GWR takes its first historic steps! 🚂 Exactly 188 years ago today, the very first section o...
04/06/2026

🗓️ ON THIS DAY IN 1838 – The GWR takes its first historic steps!

🚂 Exactly 188 years ago today, the very first section of the Great Western Railway main line officially opened to passengers!

Eager travellers climbed aboard carriages at London Paddington and journeyed 22.5 miles to Maidenhead.

Engineered by the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this remarkably straight, flat stretch of broad-gauge track was so smooth it earned the nickname "Brunel’s Billiard Table."

While this first journey didn't reach Wiltshire just yet, it set off a chain reaction that changed Swindon forever. Just three years later in 1841, Swindon was chosen as the central engineering hub for the entire expanding line, giving birth to the Swindon Railway Works and creating the historic Railway Village we fight to preserve today.

🌟 Happy Volunteers’ Week! 🌟Behind every historic building, every archive and every story we tell is a team of incredible...
01/06/2026

🌟 Happy Volunteers’ Week! 🌟

Behind every historic building, every archive and every story we tell is a team of incredible people giving up their time to make it happen.

Today, we want to say a massive THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers!

We truly couldn't do this without you. Whether you’ve been with us for years or just joined recently, your hard work keeps Swindon’s history alive.

To everyone who has given an hour, a day or a weekend to help tell Swindon’s story, you are the heartbeat of what we do.

Thank you for everything! 💜

From the landmarks right on your doorstep to your favourite day-trip spots, England is packed with history. But the reco...
01/06/2026

From the landmarks right on your doorstep to your favourite day-trip spots, England is packed with history. But the records aren’t actually complete without your memories.

Join us on Thur 11th June as we welcome Gareth Powell from Historic England to discover The Missing Pieces Project.

Share your own pictures, unique stories and hidden histories of the places on the National Heritage List for England. Whether it's an old family photo by a local building or a legendary tale, your perspective is the part that's been missing!

📆 When: Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 at 7:30 PM
📍 Where: The Bakers’ Café, SN1 5BN
💰 Cost: SHP Full Members: FREE or Guests: £5.00

Come grab a drink, meet fellow history lovers, and find out how to get your stories on the national map. See you there! ☕✨

On 24 May 1854, Lord Methuen laid the foundation stone of the Mechanics’ Institute, watched by a crowd of around a thous...
24/05/2026

On 24 May 1854, Lord Methuen laid the foundation stone of the Mechanics’ Institute, watched by a crowd of around a thousand people.

This moment marked the beginning of what would become one of Swindon’s most important civic buildings, a place built by the people of New Swindon, for the people of New Swindon. The Institute was designed by Edward Roberts and opened the following year, in 1855.

Far more than a library or reading room, the Mechanics’ Institute grew into a self‑sustaining community hub, offering education, entertainment, health services, and social support long before such ideas were taken up nationally.

The laying of that foundation stone in 1854 wasn’t just the start of a building, it was the start of a movement. A statement of ambition, pride, and collective effort that shaped the cultural and social life of Swindon for more than a century.

Tonight’s the night! 🚂✨Join us at 7:30 PM at Bakers’ Café for an evening of nostalgia and local pride. Colin Parsons wil...
21/05/2026

Tonight’s the night! 🚂✨

Join us at 7:30 PM at Bakers’ Café for an evening of nostalgia and local pride. Colin Parsons will be sharing his unique perspective on what it truly meant to grow up and work in the shadow of the works.

If you’re looking for a cosy evening of history and community right in the heart of the Railway Village, this is it.

📍 Venue: Bakers’ Café, 16 Emlyn Square, SN1 5BN.
🎟️ Entry: £5 on the door for guests (Free for SHP Full Members).

Come along, grab a seat, and immerse yourself in the stories that built Swindon. We can’t wait to see you there!

Marking International Museum Day, we’re shining a light on one of Swindon’s most atmospheric heritage spaces, the Railwa...
18/05/2026

Marking International Museum Day, we’re shining a light on one of Swindon’s most atmospheric heritage spaces, the Railway Village Museum at 34 Faringdon Road.

Step through the doorway and you step back in time. This GWR worker’s cottage offers an immersive glimpse into Victorian domestic life in the heart of the Railway Village. Every room tells a story: the routines, traditions, sounds and smells that shaped everyday life for the families who helped build Swindon’s railway community.

From the kitchen hearth to the front‑room table, the museum reveals how a Great Western Railway worker and their family lived, worked, cooked, washed and rested.

The Railway Village Museum isn’t just a collection of objects.

It’s a place where local history feels close enough to touch, where visitors of all ages can connect with the people who made Swindon what it is today.

This International Museum Day, we celebrate the power of small museums to preserve big stories and the Railway Village Museum continues to do exactly that.

Address

Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square
Swindon
SN15BP

Telephone

+447955373172

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Swindon Heritage Preservation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Swindon Heritage Preservation:

Shortcuts

Share

Category