The expansion of the GWR works towards Rodbourne Lane, lead to a spate of private speculation, not the get rich quick type of property speculation, but more of a sustainable community centred provision.

The need for housing by workers and their families was a need that comfortably well off people in Swindon would help with.

People soon stepped up, including WE Morris, and within a couple of years or so the hamlet of Even Swindon was joined with Rodbourne and eyes were cast towards Gorse Hill.

This was nothing more than a hamlet, being some distance away at the north eastern edge of Swindon.

The new carriage works and the mainline junction with the Gloucester line had kick started a rash of developments here and Swindon was now changing from just a few housing developments into a small metropolitan area.

In 1877, the clearly established routes were Regent Street and Bridge Street. By then many of the cottages had been converted into shops and were now lining the main thoroughfares of New Swindon.

In a glorification of this area, almost all of Regent street was paved with Bristol Blue Stone. Swindon’s future prospects were on the up, it was a new town, confident and brash.

Sadly, the unexpected and sudden death of chief mechanical engineer Joseph Armstrong rattled Swindon’s confidence to the core, like Minard Rea’s death had 20 years earlier.

Armstrong was a Swindon patriarch, he had improved working conditions, built churches, schools, the hospital, and ensured fresh drinking water supplies.

He founded benevolent funds, and pension funds and had personally helped many people on hard times.

Armstrong was the driving force behind the GWR park scheme in Faringdon road.

The park was a great success and was a regular “promenade” for workers and residents of New Swindon.

Astill’s Original Swindon Almanac in 1878 noted that “Armstrong's death has cast a gloom over the entire community.”

The Swindon Advertiser covered events and thousands attended Armstrong’s funeral, at which special trains were arranged by the GWR to carry mourners.

A temporary platform was constructed by the GWR near to Armstrong’s Villa Newburn, for mourners to use.

It was built for Armstrong in 1873 and demolished in 1937.

The house was located at the end of Dean Street, where Newburn Crescent now stands.

Armstrong is buried in the graveyard of St Mark’s Church, and he is best remembered as a benevolent man who had been involved in every aspect of New Swindon life.

In only 13 years his personal drive, influence and commitment to Swindon had ensured a company village became a vibrant town, with a proud self-reliant, confident can do attitude, and a caring community.

For both New Swindon and the Works, it was the end of an era, Armstrong had passed on, but his legacy still lives on today.