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
Dixon Street - Gilberts Hill School, penny for the guy 1968

Guy Fawkes Day 1968, Children outside Gilberts Hill School in Dixon Street try to persuade passers by to give 'a penny for the guy'. Normally children made their own guy by stuffing old clothes, so how successful these were with one of them standing in for the role is anyone's guess! Gilberts Hill School was one of the friendliest and most loved schools, with just two very popular teachers. Unfortunately it was closed due to economies of scale in the 1990s. The building was sold for £100,000 and converted to ten luxury flats which went on the market for over £200,000 each

 November 1, 1968 Then
Commercial Road, Shops on corner of old covered market 1968

A view of Commercial Road shops on corner of the old covered market 1968. The area was a car park for many years, and the current covered market was erected in the nineties. It is already scheduled for removal

 July 1, 1968 Then
Chapel Street, Gorse Hill: Primitive Methodist Chapel 1968

Chapel Street,Gorse Hill. Primitive Methodist Chapel 1968 The Salvation Army marching past

 July 1, 1968 Then
Sanford Street Congregational Church 1968

Sanford Street Congregational Church 1968, demolished in the seventies

 July 1, 1968 Then
Canal Walk, The Parade, Lloyds Bank 1968

Lloyds Bank and the Parade (Canal Walk) at the junction with Regent Street seen in 1968

 June 1, 1968 Then