Then And Now

This section of the site is provided in partnership with The Swindon Society and The Richard Jefferies Society. It enables you to see how the surrounding area used to look and learn more about your town. We are adding value by providing a current photograph taken as far as possible from the same position. The project involves a fair bit of detective work, so if you can add or correct information, please get in touch. This is your site, so if you would like to get involved in extending this project, please let us know.

Title Description Datesort icon
GWR, Locomotive, the 'President' in Swindon

Locomotive 4-4-2 No.103 'President' bought from France with two others by Churchward to test against his own 'Star' and 'Saint' designs. This photograph shows 'President' rebuilt with a GWR Pattern boiler in the 1920's. Note no exact date is given so we estimated one.

 June 1, 1921 Then
County Road, County Ground, Swindon Boys football team, 1920-1

Swindon boys football team and officials in the English Schools Football Sheild 1920/1. The team were: goalkeeper Sheppard, full backs Pane & Maslin, Half Backs Seely, Alley & Cole, Forewards Hatherall, Boots, Webb, Darnell & Blackford. After the game both teams went to Sandford School for tea.

 June 1, 1921 Then
Hythe Road, No.1 W.A. Slade family butchers, 1921

No.1 Hythe Road, W.A. Slade family butchers in 1921. Outside the shop are pictured William and Ida Slade, with Jimmy Dunford and a boy Dodson on the delivery bicycle. William later became the manager of the Co-op at Rodbourne Road and Captain of Swindon Wednesday United Football Club.

 June 1, 1921 Then
Sport, Swindon Argyle Football Club, 1921-2

The team played on St Mark's Recreation Ground, Whitehouse Road. This photograph was taken on a Sunday and when the Church Authorities found out it took a lot of persuasion before the team was allowed to play there. Back row, left to right: S. Marshall, V. Telling (Vice-Captain), J. Fisher, R. Telling (Hon. Sec.) J. Parsons; middle row: E. Lay (Trainer), G. Webb, W. Bradfield, W. Lewis, E. Blizzard, E. Hall, E. Purbrick; front row: H. Blackford, F. Hill, W. Griffiths (Chairman), J. Smith (President), T. Hill (Captain), B. Holly, W. Crompton. The name of the mascot is unknown. Swindon photographer F. Humphrey took the photograph.

 June 1, 1921 Then
Regent Circus, Central Mission Hall, Boys Brigade, outing, 1921

The 1st Swindon Boys' Brigade at summer camp. The boys marched from Swindon to Lechlade to the camp and would march back again. Meetings were held at the Central Mission Hall, Regents Circus. Those pictured are, in the back row: from left to right, Norman Fowler, Lt Chew, Superintendent Iles, Wesley Sage, Norman Carver, in the middle: Ivor Richards, Norman Leighfield, Capt. Milne, Capt. Dawes, Cyril Smith, Front row: Les Collier, Bert Witts, Charlie Dobson, Reg Cosway.

 June 1, 1921 Then