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Swindon, England: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Jewel_in_the_Crown%27,_Swindon_-_geograph.org.uk_-_365165.jpgAuthor: Roger Cornfoot
Swindon is a town within the borough of Swindon, in Wiltshire, England. It is about midway between Bristol and Reading, about 64 km away from each of them, and 130 km (81 mi) from London. The town itself has a population of 155,000 people (2012 estimate), while the borough about 185,000 people.
Swindon began as a Saxon settlement. Its name comes from Anglo-Saxon to mean "pig hill", denoting the geographical feature of the town. Indeed it was a small market town right up to the mid 19th century. The old hilltop market area is today part of Swindon Old Town.
The arrival of the railway in 1840 changed Swindon, turning it into a railway town and transport hub. This is documented at the Steam Railway Museum. The railway works continued to be Swindon's biggest employer right up to the mid 20th century. By the late 1970s, much of the railway works were closed and was history by 1986.
Today among the major employers in Swindon include manufacturing facilities of Honda and BMW/Mini. Intel has its European head office here, while other employes here include Motorola, Alcatel-Lucent and HSBC.
Steam Railway Museum, Swindon: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27STEAM%27_museum,_Kemble_Drive,_Swindon_-_geograph.org.uk_-_545100.jpgAuthor: Brian Robert Marshall
Visiting Swindon
Take the M4 motorway until Exit 15. Head north on the A419, then continue on the A4259 heading west to reach Swindon.
Swindon Designer Outlet: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swindon_Designer_Outlet,_Swindon_(13)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_446243.jpgAuthor: Brian Robert Marshall
Places of Interest in Swindon
- Swindon Designer Outlet: A big shopping mall in Swindon.
- Steam Railway Museum: Also called the Great Western Railway Museum, it is located in the preserved railway works building, providing a fascinating glimpse into the history of railway in this part of England. Address: Kemble Drive, SN2 2TA; Phone: 01793 466646; Open: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Admission: adult £5.95
- Swindon Museum: Museum with a modest collection of artifacts on the history of Swindon. Open: Mon-Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; Sun: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm; Admission: free
- Wilt & Berks Canal: Built between 1795 and 1810 during the days of waterborne transportation, this canal is now barely in use, and is preserved as an artifact of time past.
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