The Town Gardens gates have officially reopened after a year-long refurbishment. 

The facelift started back in September 2019 but because of the Covid pandemic the 125-year-old Quarry Road gates have only just been put back in place and opened back up for public use. 

South Swindon Parish Council commissioned the £70,000 project to restore the gates across the park. 

It enlisted a heritage blacksmith to spruce up the crumbling metalwork and chip away at the paint to reveal its original Venetian red-brown colour.

Chairman of the parish’s leisure and amenities committee Neil Hopkins believes the refurbishment was worth the money. 

He said: “From a heritage perspective you want to keep as much of the fabric of the park as possible.
“If you can repair the gates, and they were in an absolutely terrible state, then you should.”

The gates were originally installed by Mr W J Mullings of Bristol, who paid £40 and 12 shillings.