‘Why are we nostalgic about railways?’ by Philip Garrahan
May 16 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Free – £3.00
Philip Garrahan will contrast Swindon’s reputation for railway engineering with its important social history. It was once a complete company town. When the outside observer could be forgiven for thinking the GWR and Swindon were the same.
The new town was built on a greenfield site with innovations in its Railway Village, Medical Social Fund, Mechanics’ Institute, Art School and much more. Our modern nostalgia about railways may overlook how distinctive Swindon was in the age of steam. It’s now time to reset the balance.
Philip Garrahan, a retired university lecturer, is editing Made in Swindon: A Social History 1840s–1940s, which he plans to publish this year.
Cost
Swindon Heritage Preservation (SHP) Full Members – FREE Entry
Guests – £3.00 Entry
Membership
Becoming a SHP Full Member gives you full FREE access to our series of talks for Railway 200, 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.