Heritage
Swindon dates back to Roman times, but its most significant event took place in 1840, when one Isambard Kingdom Brunel chose the town for the location of his railway works for the Great Western Railway.
Swindon became famous as a place where some of the world’s best locomotives were built. Now Swindon’s “Great Western Railway Area” is home of the restored Grade II listed building of the former railway works. This area is also home to the award winning STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, the Swindon Designer Outlet Centre, and the National Monuments Record Centre which houses the seven million document archive of English Heritage.
The National Trust adds an interesting modern take on the architectural heritage of the area with its sustainable headquarters building with a cafe and shop.
The Railway Village has a fascinating story to tell – why not retrace the footsteps of the railway workers of the GWR through our website www.swindonheritagetrails.co.uk. From the Old Railway works, to STEAM and through to the living and recreational area of the GWR, the tour taken on foot or virtually on the website provides a fantastic insight into Swindon’s heritage.