Latest news with #CarriageWorks
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Restored building that is part of Swindon's history up for a prestigious award
The restoration of Swindon's historic Carriage Works has been shortlisted in prestigious regional awards, showcasing excellence in the construction history. Local residents are being urged to vote in the public voting by Swindon Borough Council, helping the Carriage Works win. Unit 7B, which hosts the University of Bath and Oxford's Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST) facility, was nominated earlier this year in the Regeneration and Conservation category of the Construction Excellence South West (CESW) Awards. The icast unit, a joint endeavour between the two universities that supports private businesses with developing sustainable technologies, is part of a wider regeneration scheme at the Carriage Works site. A number of units have so far been renovated and occupied, including The Workshed, the Royal Agricultural University's Cultural Heritage Institute and Create Studios. Mirabelle Stobbs, Property Assets Officer at Swindon Borough Council, said: 'Working on the Carriage Works buildings to bring them into productive modern use is a pleasure and a privilege. 'The digital, tech and creative business community developing here is a great place to work and it is fantastic recognition that the Carriage Works refurbishment is being recognised in these significant awards.' Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: 'It's great to see the Carriage Works getting the recognition it deserves. 'A lot of thought went into to the design of the space, to make it a future-facing workspace that feels modern and convenient, while retaining the building's historic identity. 'The work to regenerate the site is a long process but with four units already occupied and a further four on the way, it's really starting to get a new lease of life. 'While I know we're up against some tough opposition, I'm sure Swindonians will get behind us and give us the best chance of coming home with the award.' Ross Simmonds, Regional Director for Historic England in the South West, said: 'We're delighted that the Carriage Works in Swindon has been shortlisted for the 2025 Constructing Excellence South West regeneration and conservation award, highlighting the power of heritage-led partnerships to breathe new life into communities. To vote for the Carriage Works in the Construction Excellence South West Awards, visit
BBC News
05-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Swindon's 'Great Wall' and the story of its industrial heritage
A 91-year-old historian is delving into the industrial past of an imposing stone wall in the heart of Hayward, who has lived in the Wiltshire city for most of his life, says the 150-year-old "Great Wall of Swindon" represents the "struggles of generations of families".He said the area around the wall was transformed from greenfield into a thriving industrial hub, "creating the Swindon we have today".Mr Hayward is hosting an event in the town on 6 February to share his research. The wall was built around Great Western Railway's Carriage Works factory to protect workers from the busy and dangerous Bristol to London railway line. The once-bustling works were a key site during the town's expansion in the Victorian era. The workshops produced everything from locomotives, including the soft furnishings and woodwork for the interiors, to artificial limbs for injured rail Armstrong, GWR's locomotive superintendent from 1864 until his death in 1877, was responsible for the construction of the Carriage was not just an exceptional engineer but also a progressive leader who played a pivotal role in improving working part of his construction efforts, the wall was built between 1868 and 1876, running from Rodbourne Road to the train station. Mr Hayward is a former clerical officer at the workshops. He argues that the wall is a symbol of the town's industrial heritage and the workers who shaped its history."It represents the struggles of generations of Swindon families who played out their abject lives living and working in an industrial environment in the second half of the industrial revolution," he said. "[The families] were not privileged with the benefits of a modern society that we enjoy today. They had to carve out of the community they had created, the structures of governance to give themselves health, education and social facilities so that they could improve their quality of life."I think they are worth remembering, and as long as the Great Wall stands it will be their reminder."Mr Hayward's talk is being held with Swindon Heritage Preservation trust at the Central Community Centre in Swindon at 18:00 GMT on 6 February.
