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PRODID:-//Swindon Heritage Preservation - ECPv6.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://swindonheritage.org.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Swindon Heritage Preservation
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DTSTART:20240101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTSTAMP:20250106T145319Z
CREATED:20250106T145319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T145319Z
UID:4166-1735689600-1767225599@swindonheritage.org.uk
SUMMARY:Walk the Works Heritage Trail
DESCRIPTION:The Works Heritage Trail guides you around Swindon’s beautifully preserved Railway Village\, through the Tunnel and around the former GWR Works – the original industrial heart of Swindon. \nIn the 1840s\, the Great Western Railway chose to site its locomotive repair works here\, in open countryside mid-way between Bristol and London. That decision changed Swindon forever. The first railway workers\, and the generations that followed them\, forged Swindon’s character and pioneered its evolution into a dynamic and prosperous industrial centre in the south-west of England. \nThe Heritage Trail tells Swindon’s story of pioneering ideas\, community initiatives and societal change through three themes:\nIndustry\, Community and Health \nThe Trail follows a circular route\, starting and ending at Swindon Station.\nIt is approximately two miles (3.2km) long. The route is mostly flat\, with one short slope at the Tunnel. \nJoin the Trail at any point – find your location on the trail map. Labelled circles indicate the corresponding information panel titles listed in this guide. \nLook out for bronze discs in the pavements that help direct you from point to point. \nThe design of the bronze pavement discs illustrate the Trail’s three themes: a rail track for industry; a needle and thread for community\, and the traditional serpent-and-staff symbol for medicine and health. The directional arrows meet at a mirrored pair of GWR motifs. \n\nJoin the trail and find our more here!
URL:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/all-events/walk-the-works-heritage-trail/
LOCATION:Railway Village Museum\, Emlyn Square\, Swindon\, SN1 5BG
CATEGORIES:Heritage,Walking Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TheWorks-TrailMapV1.0.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251108T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251108T133000
DTSTAMP:20251028T192410Z
CREATED:20250915T163105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T192410Z
UID:6051-1762603200-1762608600@swindonheritage.org.uk
SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting 2025
DESCRIPTION:You are warmly invited to our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 8th November 2025 at 12 PM at the Central Community Centre (Emlyn Square\, SN1 5BG).  \nWe look forward to seeing you at this special AGM marking our organisation’s 30th anniversary. As well as the more formal agenda (below)\, we’ll share recent updates\, future plans\, and highlights of our achievements over the years.  \nThe Bakers Café (16 Emlyn Square\, SN1 5BN) will open for refreshments prior to the meeting from 10:30 AM\, with a chance to view artwork from local artists (including a Ken White kindly on loan from John Stooke).  \nThe main meeting will be in the Central Community Centre at 12 PM\, which includes a talk by Dr Rod Hebden\, director of the Festival of Tomorrow and CEO and Programme Director of the Swindon Culture Collective.  \nAll followed by light refreshments and a chance to catch up. Please RSVP using the form below. \nIf you need any further information\, or would like to notify us of any questions in advance\, please do get in touch via email: info@mechanics-trust.org.uk  \nAGENDA\nItem: \n\nWelcome and Apologies\nMinutes of the previous AGM 9th November 2024\nTo receive the Annual Report and Accounts for the Year ending 31st May 2025 for:\n\nThe New Mechanics’ Institution Preservation Trust\nMechanics’ Institution Trust Enterprises Limited\nMIT Cricketers Enterprise Ltd\n\n\nTo receive the Chairman’s Report\nMemorandum & Articles \nAny other business \nQ&A\n\nClose of formal meeting \nSilent Auction\nLooking for a unique gift or a treat for yourself? Our AGM Silent Auction is now live\, and every bid helps us preserve what matters most to our community. From paintings to garden gear\, there’s something for everyone. Find out more here!
URL:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/all-events/annual-general-meeting-2025/
LOCATION:Central Community Centre\, SN1 5BG\, Central Community Centre\, Emlyn Square\, Swindon\, SN1 5BG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Community,Heritage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AGM-2025.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Swindon Heritage Preservation":MAILTO:info@mechanics-trust.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251120T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251120T203000
DTSTAMP:20250616T130146Z
CREATED:20250616T130118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T130146Z
UID:5457-1763667000-1763670600@swindonheritage.org.uk
SUMMARY:'Let's Go Shopping' by John Stooke
DESCRIPTION:Well known local historian and author John Stooke is fascinated by the way that retailing has changed in the last 20 years compared to what a little change there was between 1880 and 1990. Throughout these years\, food\, drink\, clothing\, homeware\, and hardware were delivered to the general public via small\, often independent businesses\, what Americans might now call now “Mom and Pop Stores” or alternatively via the slow emergence of Department Stores\, collecting together many specialties under one roof. \nToday Regent Street and especially Bridge Street are mere pale shadows of the bustling commercial thoroughfares that characterised Central Swindon for so much of the 20th century \nIn this talk\, we will explore some of the founding fathers of Swindon retail\, who in most cases\, are just distant memories. Including Levi Lapper Morse\, Cyril Gray\, William Gilbert\, Montague Burton\, William McIlroy\, Phillip Hawe Mason\, James Lott and Johnny Kane. \n“Let’s Go Shopping” with John Stooke\, is an illustrated history of those Swindon shops we have loved and lost\, small businesses that made our Town Centre what it was.  Why not join us November 20th 2025 at 7:30 PM at the Central Community Centre. \nCost\nSwindon Heritage Preservation (SHP) Full Members – FREE Entry \nGuests – £5.00 Entry \nMembership\nBecoming a SHP Full Member gives you full FREE access to our series of talks\, along with many other benefits. Full Membership only costs £12 per year! You can learn more about Membership here (https://mechanics-trust.org.uk/membership/). \nGetting to Emlyn Square\nCentral Community Centre is in Emlyn Square (SN1 5BP) at the heart of Swindon’s Railway Village. You can view the location on Google Maps here. \nIt is easily accessible by train and bus\, with the Central Bus Station just a short walk away. There are several car parks available around the Railway Village. We recommend Bristol Street Car Park for it’s proximity to Emlyn Square.
URL:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/all-events/lets-go-shopping-by-john-stooke/
LOCATION:Central Community Centre\, SN1 5BG\, Central Community Centre\, Emlyn Square\, Swindon\, SN1 5BG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Railway200,Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lets-Go-Shopping-John-Stooke.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Swindon Heritage Preservation":MAILTO:info@mechanics-trust.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251129T103000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251129T130000
DTSTAMP:20251120T133201Z
CREATED:20251106T093507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T133201Z
UID:6785-1764412200-1764421200@swindonheritage.org.uk
SUMMARY:Victorian Christmas in the Railway Cottage Museum
DESCRIPTION:✨ Experience a Traditional Swindon Christmas Past!\nStep back in time this festive season and immerse your family in the timeless charm of a Victorian Christmas in the historic Railway Cottage Museum in Swindon! Discover the origins of your favourite festive traditions in the lovingly decorated setting of a 19th-century railway worker’s home. This is a must-attend Swindon Christmas event for all ages. \n🎅 Meet Father Christmas & Receive a Keepsake!\nThe highlight for every child is your chance to meet the man in red! \n\nMeet Father Christmas (Ticket Holders Only!): Secure your spot to step into our charmingly decorated cottage. Children can share their Christmas wishes with Father Christmas.\nA Special Gift Included: Every ticket holder who visits Father Christmas will receive a Christmas gift as a keepsake from their journey back in time!\n\nThe cottage will be open to visit from 10:30 until 13:00 but booking a specific 7 minute time slot to meet Father Christmas is essential. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults are free.
URL:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/all-events/victorian-christmas-in-the-railway-cottage-museum/
LOCATION:Railway Village Museum\, 34 Faringdon Road\, Swindon\, Wiltshire\, SN1 5BJ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Museum
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://swindonheritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Victorian-Christmas-in-the-Railway-Cottage-Presentation.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Swindon Heritage Preservation":MAILTO:info@mechanics-trust.org.uk
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