The Hammerman Poet
Life in a Railway Factory: Alfred Williams, the Hammerman Poet Born close to Brunel’s broad gauge at South Marston, While Richard Jefferies measured the red brick growth Of New Swindon’s terraced street advance, You studied express trains from farm and field,...
Stroud to Swindon and Brunel all the Way
From Stroud to Swindon for a Football Match (Brunel All the Way) Start your journey at the Platform One Café, Coffee and croissants and Katie and Rick, 3 tables, 6 chairs, a trunk, 15 railway puzzles (Always one on the go for travellers with a brief encounter), Sundry...
The Gluepot in the Railway Village in Swindon
The Glue Pot I always like visiting the Glue Pot, I like its position in the Railway Village: A sentinel of Swindon’s heritage, With open doors to the pavement To welcome local and visitor alike. I like visiting the Glue Pot in springtime: Lengthening light around the...
Sapperton after the Great War
Sapperton in the 1920s My grand-dad served throughout the Great War from 1914 to 1918. He was made redundant in 1919, in London, so he and his family moved back towards my grandmother’s home of Stroud. They lived in a Nissen hut by Minchinhampton Aerodrome (today’s...
STEAM Museum Swindon
Dear Famous Five, If you want a great day out then you ought to come to the STEAM Museum in Swindon. Because this is what I saw when here today on holiday: A gift shop, a fire engine, giant locomotive wheels, name plates and numbers, signals, holiday haunts...
Capel’s Viaduct Stroud
History at Capel’s Viaduct It’s a great walk down to Capel’s Viaduct, Past old ridge and furrow and tenterhook hedgerows, Teazles here and there to raise your nap, Imagining the patchwork quilt of fields of two centuries ago, Field-names such as Bacon Slad, Calves...