The Railway Village, Swindon

The coming of the Great Western Railway transformed Swindon. At its peak, the company's works stretched for over one and a half miles adjacent to the main railway line, and employed over 14,000 people.

To accommodate its workers, 300 cottages were built for the GWR on land bought from the local brewer and landowner, John Harding Sheppard. These, along with a mechanics' institute, market, barracks, armoury and washing and Turkish baths, were built in stages between 1842 and 1877.

Historic England Archive 29615_044