AN EXHIBITION of historic postcards reveal how Old Town has changed over the past century.

The overhead wires that once carried trams up Victoria Road and along Wood Street have gone, to be replaced by double yellow lines and traffic jams. Saplings lining Avenue Road have grown into mature trees.

These images from the turn of the century are just some of the amazing views of historic Swindon visitors to Swindon Museum and Art Gallery can get this weekend.

Museum curators are hosting the pop-up exhibition of photographs and postcards with the Swindon Society.

Andy Binks, chairman of Swindon Society, said: “People won’t be able to imagine Swindon looking quite as nice, clean, tidy and presentable. It also shows you a lot of buildings that are no longer in existence and a way of life that was different.

“The postcards weren’t made just because people wanted a picture of the town. They were the social media of their day. You could have sent me a postcard and it could have got to me in the same morning. People ordered their groceries by postcard. You’d send it in the morning and the groceries would be with you by the afternoon.”

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery have brought out six boxes from their massive postcard collection. Museum visitors can browse thousands of picture postcards. The pop-up exhibition is part of the week long Old Town Festival, which ends on Saturday evening with a pop concert in Town Gardens.

Nicki Western, marketing manager at the Bath Road museum, said of the exhibition: “It’s about celebrating Old Town. The area has changed massively. The postcards show building that aren’t there any more, like the church that was next to the museum. And it’s really interesting to see the things you still recognise, like the gates to Lawn Woods.”

She said expert volunteer historians from the Swindon Society were on hand to reveal the mysteries of the town’s past. Like Antiques Roadshow, people can also have their old photographs of Swindon identified.

“If you have got any pictures of Swindon’s history bring them along to show to the Swindon Society,” Nicki added.

Move the slider from side to side to check how these Old Town streets have changed 

Bath Road

Made with Flourish

Avenue Road

Made with Flourish

Commonweal School, The Mall

Made with Flourish

High Street

Made with Flourish

The pop-up exhibition runs until Saturday, June 16, 11am-3pm.

  • Like history? Swindon Society is running a tour of Holy Rood Church, Swindon’s oldest building, at 2pm on Saturday. Free. Meet at Holy Rood, Lawn Woods.