‘Let’s Go Shopping’ by John Stooke
November 20 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Free – £5.00
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.
Today 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
In 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.
“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.
Cost
Swindon Heritage Preservation (SHP) Full Members – FREE Entry
Guests – £5.00 Entry
Membership
Becoming 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/).
Getting to Emlyn Square
Central 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.
It 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.