As the year moves on we are preparing to undertake a major study into Wiltshire farmsteads. Some interested observers might be aware that the traditional farmstead in Britain is rapidly disappearing under the pressures of changes in agricultural practice. Sadly our traditional farm buildings have become largely redundant, either falling into disuse or being converted into desirable dwellings or light industrial units in the country. Only a handful of hobby farmers preserve the farmstead as it used to be, and only then because it enhances their product, be it traditional Wiltshire ham, or the kinds of speciality preserves sold only in posh farm shops. They maintain a certain image that harks back to the ‘good old days’.

Farmsteads are still very much part of the British landscape and this is very true in Wiltshire where agriculture has played such a key role throughout our history, at one time sending our milk, cheese and bacon to London and beyond. As a consequence there is an urgent need to record for posterity these buildings before it is too late. In order to undertake much of the work we need volunteers. Please read on to find out how you could help……

Haydon Farm at Haydon Wick near Swindon - one of the last farms on Haydon End Lane to be engulfed in modern development and its remaining old buildings converted to other uses.
 

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After our recent comment by Mike d'Apice, (thanks for that), I have produced a transcription of the text for all those keen to translate the German for us.....

GB82 56bc

Nur fur den Dienstgebrauch
Bild Nr. F. 88.7b/40-038 (Lfl.3)
Aufnahme Vom 18.9.40
Chippenham
Maschinenfabrik
"Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd"
Lange (westl.Greenw): 2 degrees 06' 33"  Brelte: 51 degrees 27' 53"

MiBweisung: - 11 degrees 12' (Mitte 1941) Zielhohe uber NN 61m
MaBstab etwa 1:9,100

Genst. 5. Abt. August 1941
Karte 1:100,000
GB E/32

1. Kraftanlage etwa 600qm
2. Fabrikationshallen etwa 24,400qm
3. Lager-und Betriebsgebaude etwa 7,200
4. Verwaltungsgebaude etwa 1,500
5. Luftschutzanlagen

Bebaute Flache etwa 43,700
Gesamte
GleisanchluBvorhanden

Hope this helps!

We will hopefully be able to publish the translated text at a later date.

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Our Roman family event was enjoyed by nearly 100 people at the beginning of the school holidays. Running as part of the Festival of British Archaeology visitors enjoyed the opportunity to find out more about the Roman period in Wiltshire. A soldier from the Ermine Street Guard told us all about life in the Roman army and impressed visitors with his weapons and armour. A household slave told tales of life in a villa working for wealthy owners. Local archaeologists brought along a range of roman finds from recent excavations for people to see and handle. The finds officer was kept busy identifying finds brought in by visitors and those cleaned by enthusiastic children in the finds washing activity.

 Finds Washing

Read on to discover our visitors' comments:

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David Light of Hardenhuish School and Samantha Lethaby of Abbeyfield School both spent a week at Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, working for the archive service in July this year. In their own words they describe what they did and what they thought of working here…

What kind of things did you do?

You are most likely to be doing a different job everyday, whether this is helping out with public enquiries downstairs or cataloguing new additions to the extensive archives. (David Light) Read on to find out more....

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We have recently acquired an original German reconnaissance aerial photograph from 1941. It focused on the Westinghouse site in Chippenham and detailed their plans to bomb it. Read on to find out more......

German Aerial Photograph of Chippenham, 1941, Showing Westinghouse as the Target

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