The OPC is Nigel Chalk

THIS PAGE IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION – PLEASE DO NOT ADD ANYTHING TO THE PAGE ABOVE THE STARRED LINE BELOW WITHOUT CONSULTING TERESA LEWIS BEFORE HAND.  THIS INCLUDES UPDATED ITEMS AND NEW TEXT.  THANK YOU

Stratton St. Margaret Photo Gallery         Stratton St. Margaret Aerial Views Gallery            Stratton St. Margaret Miscellany Gallery

Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)

Blunsdon St. Andrew – Broad Blunsdon – Chiseldon – Liddington – Rodbourne Cheney – South Marston – Stanton Fitzwarren – Swindon – Wanborough

In 2018 boundary changes created Swindon North – Nythe, Liden & Eldene

Stratton St. Margaret is a large Parish and some local details have been separated by area please see the following pages – Gorse Hill – Penhill – Nythe – Kingsdown – Upper Stratton – Lower Stratton

Websites of Interest

Stratton St. Margaret Parish Council – Official Parish Council Website
St. Margarets Church – link to the parish church site.
Swindon Library – Swindon Library’s online collection of Stratton St Margaret photographs
Swindon Viewpoint – Local Video News Website includes Archive footage and photographs.
Stratton St. Margaret History Society on Facebook.

The Parish Church of St. Margaret of Antioch

St. Margaret Gallery          St. Margaret Interior Gallery         St. Margaret Churchyard          St. Margaret Vicarage

There was originally an Anglo Saxon wattle & thatch church on the site dating back before 1000 AD.  A Norman church was built in its place and the current Church of England parish church of St. Margaret of Antioch dates from the 13th century in the reign of Edward I (Edward Longshanks 1272-1307).          Read more about St. Margaret’s Church here.

Church Magazines

Parish Church Magazine 1950 Gallery

Church Officials

Incumbents List 1260 – Present          Curates List 1789 – Present

Vicars
Rev. James Hare

Publication of Essay on the Reasonableness of Scepticism by Rev. J. Hare 1801-1803

Publication of A Treatise on the Conduct of God to the Human Species by Rev. J. Hare 1809

Church People & Ceremonies

Church People & Ceremonies Gallery

Ecclesiastical News 

Church Matters 1800-1899          From the Welsh Language Press 1876           Church Valuables Stolen 1990

Parish Registers

Baptisms

1607-1699          1700-1749          1750-1774           1775-1799          1800-1824           1825-1849          1850-1874          1958

Marriages

1607-1799          1800-1849           1850-1899          1900-1949          1950-2013

Burials

1800-1849          1850-1899          1900-2008

Miscellaneous

Parish Register Miscellanies

Parish Registers held at WSHC

Baptisms 1608-1923
Marriages 1608-1982
Burials 1608-1978
BTs 1837-1863 are held at Bristol Record Office

Parish History

Stratton St. Margaret, once a village, has now become the north east part of Swindon and is rapidly becoming suburbanised.     Parish History by Nigel Chalk

Civil Registration

1837 – 1896 Highworth Registration District
1896 – Present Swindon Registration District

Register General’s Quarterly Report 1854

Medieval Stratton

AD 1 – 1300

Domesday Book Extract

1301-1500

Document Relating to the Manor of Stratton St. Margaret at Merton College, Oxford          Petition in the case of Kings College v Merton College Oxford 1450
Release to all actions. Granter Merton College, Oxford. Grantee Kings College, Cambridge, 16 January 1464
Extract from the Exchequer Rolls concerning the lease of Stratton St. Margaret to Hugh Auseley, 14 July 1491

Myths, Legends & Folklore

Crocodile Legend 1856-1901         Dame Durden – A Traditional Folk Song performed in 1915

Parish Council

Galleries

Merton Fields Gallery          Parish Council Buildings and Sites Gallery          Parish Council Ephemera Gallery

Boundary Streets
House & Street Renumbering  Parish Council Sites Parish Boundary Alteration 1880 Plan for Greenbridge Rec. 1976
Clean Up of Community Park 2013 Council Tax Benefit for Parish Councils 2013 Plea to Care for Local Pond 2013 Flooding at Merton Fields 2020
Council Run Property & Sites

Grange Road Leisure Centre Fit For Purpose 2014          Post office to be set up in Grange Leisure Centre 2018          Grange Leisure Centre 2019

Parish Boundary and Street Changes

Parish Boundary Alteration 1880          House & Street Renumbering

Parish Celebrations and Festivals

Parish Community Events & Festivals Gallery          Stratton Festival 2019 Gallery

Coronation Booklet of King George VI 1937 Stratton Mothers Union Golden Jubilee Celebrations 1949 Programme for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
Golden Jubilee Events Held by Schools 2012 Storm Showers Add to Family Fun 2014 Stratton Festival 2016 Poster

Parish Committees

Local Parochial Sanitary Committee 1878

Parish Council

Merton Fields Gallery          Parish Council Buildings and Sites Gallery          Parish Council Ephemera Gallery

History of the Parish Council Parish Council Chairs & Clerks Parish Council Sites
Plan for Greenbridge Rec. 1976 Twenty Years Service on Stratton Parish Council 1993 Honda Help Save Floral Displays 2012
Clean Up of Community Park 2013 Council Tax Benefit for Parish Councils 2013 Plea to Care for Local Pond 2013
Vandals Destroy Saplings November 2013 Designation of the Parish Neighbourhood Area 2015 Parish Calendar Advert 2017
Flooding at Merton Fields 2020    
Council Meetings

December 1895          September 1896

Council Properties

Grange Road Leisure Centre Fit For Purpose 2014          Post office to be set up in Grange Leisure Centre 2018          Grange Leisure Centre 2019

Parish Magazines

Winter 2008 Spring 2009 Summer 2009 Autumn 2009
Spring 2010 Summer 2010 Winter 2010 Summer 2011
Winter 2011 Spring 2012 Summer 2012 Winter 2012
Spring 2013 Summer 2013 Winter 2013 Summer 2014
Winter 2014 Spring 2015 Summer 2015 Winter 2015
Spring 2016 Summer 2016 Winter 2016 Spring 2017
Autumn 2017 June 2018 Spring 2022 Summer 2022
Autumn 2022 Winter 2022 Spring 2023  

Parish Publications

Gallery of Front Covers

St. Margaret’s Centre

History Event 2019

Population, Jurisdictions and Topography

John Aubrey’s Collection 1659-1670 Population Figures and Jurisdictions 1801-2013 Topographical Dictionary of England Extract 1848  National Gazetteer Entry 1868 
Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales, 1894-1895      

Buildings and Land

Housing & Residential

Builders Plaques Gallery          Streets & Their Names (TBU)

Queensfield Gallery          Residential Streets Gallery          Care Homes Gallery

For a list of buildings and their details please read our document Buildings and Land of Stratton St. Margaret *

Houses & Their Build Dates *          Housing Trends 1820-1960

Covenants

19 Swindon Road 1924

Indentures

Kemble to Cullerne 1692          Mortgage Indenture, Pocock to Curtis 1819

Planning

Homes Plan Gets the Go Ahead 2001          Headlands School to Housing Development 2014

Taxes

Land & Building News 2000-Present *

Tenancy Agreements 

77 Green Road 1951          77 Green Road 1953

Archaeology

Archaeology Gallery

Cemeteries

Cemeteries may be found in Lower and Upper Stratton.  Please visit the dedicated pages for these sub parishes for more details

Available Gravestone images and look ups for dates after 1985 for the two burial grounds may be obtained by contacting the OPC via the Contact Us Tab at the top of this page and selecting OPCs from the drop down menu. It is anticipated that all Headstones will be photographed and made available online until that time please request a copy from the OPC who can be contacted via the Contact us link at the top of the page.

Conservation

Designation of Conservation Areas 1992          Big Tree Plant 2012          Conservation 2013

Council Business (Other Parishes)

Minutes of Meetings Involving Stratton St. Margaret

Highworth DC Meetings Minutes

Farms

Farms Gallery

Other Farms and Farmsteads

Many thanks to Clive Carter for supplying additional information for individual farm histories below

Breach Farm
Breach Farm        
Brewery Farm
Timeline        
Clays Farm
Timeline Sale of Stock & Machinery 1948 *      
Crowdy’s Hill Farm
Timeline        
Diamond Farm
Timeline *        
Dockle Farm
Timeline * Wildern, Pig Carcass Summons 1908 *      
Little Nythe Farm
Timeline *        
Marsh Farm/Green Farm
Timeline *        
Parsonage Farm
Timeline * Auction Sale 1895      
Pidgeon House Farm 
Timeline  Sale by Auction 1809 Auction Sale 1829    
Pond Farm
Timeline *        
Ryall Farm
Timeline *        
Stratton Farm
Sale  1807        
Sturrey Brook Farm
Timeline *        
Wharf Farm
Timeline *        
Additional Farm Information 
Diamond Farm

Located at Ermin Street – 1948 street directory has L P & P S Hinder in residence and L P & O P Hinder by 1951. (became Hinders Yard) *

Marsh Farm (Green Farm)

The farm was at Stratton Green. 1844 Mr Reynolds is given as farmer when his daughter, Rebecca, marries a Mr. Edwards of London. (Wilts & Gloucester Standard 27-08-1844). Birth, April 27th, the wife of Mr. Greenaway a daughter. Swindon Advertiser 03-05-1875 p4.  Joseph Hayden was farmer here according to the 1881 census. H C ROBERT’s youngest son Harry gets married, 15-11-1919. North Wilts Herald 14-11-1919 p5.
1922, May 18th, Birth of son to wife of Wilfred M WOODMAN. North Wilts Herald
26-05-1922 p5. 1937, as estate of George Bloxham, it was up for sale as two cottages with, 4 tennis courts, putting green, 2 acres, the dairy being sold separately. North Wilts Herald 02-04-1937. The 1948 Street Directory shows Emily Baker living here, but now called Green farm.  By 1951 it had reverted to Marsh farm as listed in the 1951 Street Directory with Holloway family in occupation.

Pond Farm

1796 John Beckensale, 1841-1861 Tilley family, 1881 William Chapman, 1896 Rev. Scott, 1910 Rev. Burgess, 1911 Joseph Russell, 1928-1970 John Peapell a baker is here. Shown on O.S. Maps c.1900 also  shown on 1922 map as being behind Jacobs Ladder in Ermin Street.

Ryall Farm (Roiall Field, Royal Farm)

Believed to date back to 1602.  1796 Enclosure Award to William Tompkins, now part of Honda Factory site was originally alongside Highworth Road.  1880 David Broughton, 1891 Mr Goddard,1901 James Waldron, Kelly’s 1905 Directory, 1918-1931 Fred Bourton and 1939 Register shows Henry James Bourton in occupation although in 1936 Arthur Greenaway is shown on Electoral Roll.

Sturrey Brook Farm

The farm was situated on the Highworth Road.

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Enclosures

Inclosure Decision Meeting 1794          Inclosure Award Abstract 1796

Fires

Fires Gallery

Fires 1800-1899          Fire at the Mill 1886           Fire at Derelict Care Home 2016

Footpaths

Footpaths Gallery

The parish of Stratton St. Margaret is crisscrossed with many footpaths.  Some of these footpaths follow the ancient walkways that the early Stratton residents would have used. The Boundary Close Footpath is preserved as such. More details about the footpaths

Rights of Way Letter 1986          Rights of Way Schedule 1986

Hospitals and Health & Social Facilities

The Close, Homeless Hostel 1977          Sandalwood Place of Safety Decision Delayed 2017

St. Margaret’s Hospital

Hospital Gallery

Enclosures

Inclosure Decision Meeting 1794

Landowners

Lords of the Manor           Owners of Land 1873

Maps

Map Gallery

Map Showing Parish Shrinkage Map of c1804 Ordnance Survey Map 1811-1812 Ordnance Survey Map 1816
Map of 1841 Map of 1882 Map of 1893 Map of Land for Sale 1906
Parish Map of 2016      

Miscellaneous Items

Community Retains its Village Atmosphere 2011            Designation of Neighborhood Area November 2013

Planning & Development

Planning & Development Gallery

Original Plan for Days Close 1968 Bellway Homes, Ermin Street Site Planning, Original Site Layout 2010 Jephson Housing Association, Highworth Road Site, Planning Layout 2011
Planning Notice, Rear of The Rat Trap, Highworth Road, 2011 14 Marshfield Way Extension Plans 2012 New Showroom Plans 2014
Wildern Square Housing Development Plan 2015 Former Bampton Brothers Site Fails to Sell 2015 Bridge End Road Oil Depot Plan 2016
89 Ermin Street Development Plan 2016 Wheatsheaf Development Plan 2016 Proposed White Hart Roundabout Layout 2016
Site Plan for Bramptons 2017 Sandalwood Place of Safety Decision Delayed 2017 Selina House, 192 Oxford Road Conversion to Flats Plans 2017
1 Oxford Road Revised Bungalow Footprint Plans 2017 Stratton Park 2018  
Industrial Estate Development

Equity Trade Centre Gallery          Europa Industrial Park

Greenbridge Road Alterations Gallery          Greenbridge Industrial Estate Gallery          Greenbridge Retail Park Gallery           Greenbridge Trading Estate Gallery          St.Margaret’s Retail Park Gallery

New Property Build and Extensions

New Property Build and Extensions Gallery

Property Demolition

Property Demolition Gallery

Property to be Let

1900-1999

Recreation and Playing Fields

Meadowcroft Recreation Area 2004

Sale of Buildings and Land

Sale of Property 1900-1949 *         Land & Property Sales 1900-1949  *        Property Sale in Swindon 1901          Sale by Auction of Buildings & Land 1902

Public Houses

Public Houses Gallery

For list of pubs, their history and landlords go to  Public Houses 1700s-Present          Other Small Pubs and Beer Houses 

Bakers Arms  History Battle of the Cooks 2015      
Engineers Arms (closed) History        
Lady Margaret (closed) History        
Moonrakers History        
New Inn (closed) History        
Plough History        
Rising Sun Inn (closed) History        
Wheatsheaf – Dores Road (closed)  History        
Wheatsheaf – Ermin Street    History        
White Hart History Rooftop Works Completed 2015      

 Railway, Roads, Canal & Public Transport

  History of the railway, canal and public transport               

Buses

Buses and Bus Routes Gallery 

Canals

Notice of Intended Construction of Wilts & Berks Canal 1793

Railway

 Railway Gallery 

Stratton station was on Highworth Light Railway which opened on 9th May 1883, closing to passengers on 28th February 1953 and to all traffic on 3rd August 1962. At one period up to 100 churns of milk were sent to London daily on the railway. Read more about the

Roads

Road Building and Alterations Gallery

Highways & Byways Extract 1917

Weight Restriction Orders

Ermin Street Map 2013          Ermin Street Order 2013

Ermin Street Railway Bridge Drawing         Triple Rail Crash 1958         Network Rail Electrification Notice 2015          

Rates and Taxes

Appeal Against Rates Charge 1864

Sporting Facilities

Proposed Speedway Track 1947

Weather Phenomena

Weather Gallery

Weather Phenomena

Crime and Legal Matters

Adam de Stratton

Animal Related Crime

Ill-Treating a Cat 1860          Greenaway’s Stray Horse 1877          Mistreatment of Greyhounds 2019

Arson

Arson & Embezzlement at Pidgeon House Farm 1906          Arson Charge of Harry Brown Andrews 1906

Assault

Assault Charge & Indecent Behaviour 1860          Albert Andrews, Guilty of Wounding 1882          Inskip, Guilty of Assault 2017          Assault on Emergency Worker 2020

Bastardy

Bastardy Examinations 1752-1864

Bigamy

Bigamy and First Wife Knew 1944

Child Cruelty & Neglect

Youthful Beggar & Cruel Mother 1852           Sarah Algar Neglect of Annie Louisa Algar 1902

Criminal Damage

Violation of Coffin 1867         A Future Together 2000          Smashed New Bus Shelter 2002          Vandals Attack Park 2008

Drunk and Disorderly

Public House Row – Sellwood and Jones 1877         Drunk in Charge of a Horse and Cart 1911

Lost Property

Losing a Purse 852

Miscellaneous Legal Items

Parishioners Eligible to Serve as Jurors 1771          Youth Gang Culture 1976

Murder

In early 1891 Katie Speck aged 5 was found murdered in Kingsdown Brook.
In late 1892 Frank Franklin aged 19 committed suicide on the railway line, leaving a letter to his mum admitting to the murder.

Perjury

Disturbance at Beer House 1854

Public Order

Dispersal Order for Greenbridge Retail Park 2010

Crime Reports

The documents below are in the process of being transferred to OPC templates larger items that were included will be published as individual items

1700-1799         1800-1849          1850-1874         1875-1899          1900-1949          1950-1999          2000-Present

Theft  & Burglary

Timothy Osmond – 2 Counts of Theft 1836 Fleece Theft 1860 Acquitted of Theft of Hops 1870 Grocery Theft by Sewell 1877
Charge of Burglary by a Boy 1878      
Garden Robbery by Henry Townsend 1891 Stealing Bacon by Iles 1902 Theft from Stratton Mills 1907 Dog Collar Saves Vicar 2000
Attempted Car Theft Backfires 2014 Domino’s Pizza Chain Raid 2014 Convicted Fraudster 2018 Scaffolding Theft  2019

Transportation

Pickpocketing Charge – Titchener & Naish 1836

Directories

Post Office 1855 Post Office 1859 Kellys 1867 Post Office 1875
Kellys 1880 Kellys 1889    
North Wilts 1890 Kellys 1895 Kellys 1898 Kellys 1903
Kellys 1907 Kellys 1911 Kellys 1915 Kellys 1923
Swindon & District Directory 1928 Swindon & District Year Book 1948 (Description) Swindon & District Year Book 1948 (By Address) Swindon & District Year Book 1948 (By Surname)
Swindon & District Yearbook 1951 (Description) Swindon & District Year Book 1951 (Residents) Directory of Swindon 1970 (by Residence) Directory of Swindon 1970 (by Name)

The Swindon & District Year Book for 1948 is quite an important document for family historians since it lists names and address of residents of the parish. Once the 1921 Census is released for public viewing in 2022 there will be no other available Census for public view scheduled for release until the 1951 Census is released in 2052. The 1931 Census was lost in a fire in its entirety in 1942 and there was no Census taken during 1941 due to WWII action therefore leaving a large gap between 1921 and 1951. The National Identity Card Records of 1939 is the only other source available which could help fill the gap this is controlled by the NHS Archives it is now available to view via Find My Past but charges will apply unless you have a subscription even then strict rules apply for access.

Education

Education Gallery

For information about the schools of Stratton please read this article.

Education School Board

General School Articles and Reports

Education 1800-1849          Private Tuition 1834         Proposed News Schools – Tenders 1869          Ministry of Education Notice 1954          Two Schools Told to Improve by Ofsted 2016

Stratton School Board & Managers

A few children were educated by means of the rent of lands left in 1720 by John Herring. The local school board was formed February 12, 1876 and was dissolved by the Education Act of 1902.

Assistant Schoolmistress Vacancy 1878          School Board Finance Statement 1880          School Board Meeting 1895           School Managers Meeting 1940

Stratton Schools

Grange School

Grange School Gallery

Infant School

Class 2 1991

Junior School

School Move 1962          Netball Team 1966-1967          Netball Team c1970s          Class of 1972, Year 1          Class of 1974, Year 3

Headlands Grammar School

Headlands School Gallery          Headlands School Class Photographs           Headlands Sports Gallery

Entertainment & School Productions

Headlands School Production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder 1967

Headlandian Magazines
1961-1962 1962-1963 1963-1964  1965 1966  1967  1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 Magazine Editorial Team    
 Prize Winners

1967            1968

Pupil Placements

Placement Letters 1963

Sports

School Sports Day Programme 1968

Staff

Members of Staff

Timetables

Workbook Cover & Timetable for Susan Lott 1963             G.C.E. Examination Timetable 1968

Merton Fields Secondary School

Merton Fields School Gallery

St. Catherine’s R.C. Primary

Parking Problem at St. Catherine’s R.C. Primary 2013

Emigration and Migration

Strays Index 60 years of the Polish Community Emigration Home Contact Requested 1800 – Present
Emigration & Migration News 1900-1999 Naturalization Certificate from National Archives 1941-1954 Three Emigrant Families
Just Look at Me Now 2000 Stratton to Uganda to Fight Poverty 2014 Emigration in Reverse 1959

Employment and Business

Employment & Business Gallery

Business and Employment

Agriculture and Land

Gamekeepers

Gamekeepers Certificates 1807         Gamekeepers Certificates 1834

Markets & Agricultural Shows

Swindon Livestock Market Prizes 1874

Animals and Pets

Animals and Pets Gallery

Hinders Pet Shop 1925

Apprentices

Apprenticeships were often advertised in local papers.  Please refer to Employment News 1800-1899 for examples

Apprentices 1711-1907 (Index)          Daniel Bezley 1720

Automotive

New Jaguar & Land-Rover Car Showroom Gallery
Brown Brothers      Honda UK Manufacturing

BMW, Pressed Steel & Rover Group

BMW Gallery (updated June 2024)

Pressed Steel & Rover Group Gallery

Link Newsletter – 002- 1991 Triaxis Rover – 40th Anniversary Mayors Speech 1995
Mini Car Plant Investment Boost November 2013 Mini Car Plant Staff Help Gain Award 2014 BMW Pension Changes Strike Ballot 2016
Pressed Steel Decision To Erect New Factory 1955 Harold Lott – Pension Documents 1959
Strike at Plant 1961 BMW Site Map 2017 Pressed Steel Report 001 – July 1980

Banking

Barclays Bank
Lloyds Bank

Beauty and Hairdressing

Tales to Make Your Hair Curl 2001          Shelf Stacker to Celebrity Hair Stylist 2014

Brewing

Brewing in Stratton St. Margaret

Arkell Family and Brewery

See also articles under Kingsdown

Arkell Family Gallery          Brewery Gallery

Arkell Family Overwiew Complete History of Arkell’s Partnership Dissolved 1846 Dinner in a Barrel 1856
Memoriam Susannah Arkell 1866 Memoriam Mary Arkell 1871 Memoriam Charles N Arkell 1872 Memoriam Henry Arkell 1878
Probate Notice for John Arkell Deceased 1882 Promotional Mileage Chart 1969 Promotional Mileage Chart 1969 Beerex Festival 1976
Obituary and Tributes to Peter Arkell 2010    
Star Brewery

Star Brewery Gallery

Star Brewery for Sale 1878

Brickmaking & Building Supplies

Location of Brickmakers          Crosby Doors

Business Opportunities

1850-1899

Carpentry & Sawyers

Bramhill Sawmill was just up Oxford Road on the site of the old brick works, Burden & Evergreen Closes now cover this area.

Thomas Colborne

Cart and Wagon Builders

Cart and Wagon Gallery

W. H. Hill

W. H. Hill         Advert for W. H. Hill 1928

Clothing, Footwear and Textiles

Compton Sons & Webb

Swindon Clothing manufacturers had a factory in Stratton which was used to produce uniforms during the wars. The main site was in Station Road, Swindon.

Cooke’s

This was a small boot & shoe repair shop

Communications

Post Offices           British Postal Services Appointments 1737-1969

Community Services

Fire Brigade

Retirement of Captain Glynn 1910

Police

Wiltshire Constabulary 1858

Distribution & Warehousing

B & Q Warehouse          W. H. Smiths

Engineering

Linton & Hirst

Nickel Laminations Maker

Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd., South Marston Works

Vickers-Armstrong Gallery

Vickers Supermarine          Vickers and Phillips & PWS Salary Related Documents 1941-1945          Harold Lott – ID Card for Vickers-Armstrong 1947          Vickers Armstrong Employment Advertisement 1960

Hovercraft trials at Vickers from British Pathe Newsreel 1961 and 1962

Employment News

Employment News 1800-1899

Entertainment and Hospitality

Employed as a Pirate 1980          Madison Hotel to Close 2014

Fashion Industry

Model Polishes Up Well 2005

Food Preparation and Manufacturing

Bakeries

Godwin’s – Had a Bakery in Hyde Road.

R & F Wise – Closing Two Factories 2000

Meat Processing

Brown & Knight 1961          St. Margaret’s Wiltshire Bacon

Metallurgy

Coopers Metals Gallery

Slaughterhouses

Coopers Slaughterhouse

Garages, Cycle Shops, Vehicle Body Shops, Tyre Supplies and Petrol Stations

Bathwick Tyres           Esso Garage          Garages, Cycle Shops &c.

Garden Centres & Nurseries

Blackwells Fuschia Nursery

Local Business Miscellany

Local Businesses from the 1930s Onwards          More Local Businesses          List of Businesses 2014

Haulage

Les Smith Haulage

Laundries

North Wilts Sanitary Steam Laundry – Hoddinott & Sons

Traded from 4th May 1891. Several reported accidents and mis-treatment to animals in local press. In 1894 a Miss Holliday brought in from London, was made manager.

Local Advertising

Advertising Gallery

Advertisement for Morse’s Herbal Ointment 1854          Advertising 1900-1949          Articles For Sale 1900-1999          Adverts from the Highworth Official Guide 1950s

Medical and Scientific

Chemical Industry

Royal Society of Chemistry Award 2014

Doctors, Midwives and Nurses

Medical License for Henry Kemble (Kembell) 1689           Nurses Registration          Medical Professionals 1910-1960

Milling

Steam Flour Mill

Located on the canal at Greenbridge, in 1891 owned by Frogley & Deacon.

Oil Industry

Oil Depot Plan 2016

Powder Works

Built for 1914-1918 war, a lot was demolished and sold off in 1931.  The rest of site was first used by the Pioneer Corps during WWII, then as a pow camp housing first Cypriots then Germans. Taken over by Plessey’s after the war some of the buildings still remain, making up Kembry Park Trading Estate. Stratton Powder Works

Retail Shops, Butchers and Food Outlets

Shopkeeper Charlie Reynolds (Aged 96) 2012          Reynolds Newsagents to Close 2012         Richardson & Rabbetts at The Shellfish Giant 2014

Butchers

Basil Gore was the local butcher in Beechcroft Road

Fast Food and Takeaways

Beechcroft Road – fish & chip shop next door to Gore’s butchers

Newsagents and Tobacconists
Richardson & Rabbetts at Beechcroft

They the well known local Newsagents, and tobacconist’s store, today occupied by a Hardware store

Stores & Supermarkets

Stores

Aldi Store

Aldi Gallery

New Aldi Store, Hobley Road 2015

Situations Vacant and Wanted

Situations Vacant 1800-1899          Situations Wanted 1800-1899            Situations Wanted 1900 – Present

Transport Services

Blue Ivory Coaches          Bus Service Axing 2000          No 7 Bus Timetable 2016          Loco no. 7794 at Stratton Park 2015

Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship

Non Conformity Gallery

Non Conformity 1800-1899          Meeting House Certificates 1696-1832          Ministers Rally For Feast Day Changes 1855

Beechcroft Road Methodist Church

History of Methodist Church          Sunday School Play Programme 1954

Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints

Opening of a new Church 2004

Green Road Cemetery Chapel

History of the Cemetery Chapel

Kingsdown Gospel Hall

Please refer to the Kingsdown page

Primitive Methodist Church – Lower Stratton

Please refer to the Lower Stratton page

St. Barnabas – Gorse Hill

Please refer to the Gorse Hill page

St. Philip the Deacon – Upper Stratton

Please refer to the Upper Stratton Page

Stratton Green Baptist Church

Please refer to the Lower Stratton Page

Upper Stratton Baptist Church

Please refer to the Upper Stratton Page

Upper Stratton Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

Please refer to the Upper Stratton Page

Zion Baptist Chapel

History of Zion Chapel

People and Parish Notables

People Gallery

Accidents

Accident Reports 1800-1899           Railway Accident Involving Thomas Eastman 1866           Cliff Top Rescue 1976          Fatal Accident 2000          Accidents 2000-2025          Fatal Accident Plea for Witnesses 2012

Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies

Stratton St. Margaret has in the past and still is a very community minded parish.  There are many clubs, societies and community groups to suit all ages and caters for all kinds of leisure interests. Many of the clubs and activities available in the community today have their roots in the industry from around the area including many sports clubs. Here you may read more about these clubs and groups

Associations Gallery

Clubs, Societies and Community Groups           Clubs and Societies News 1900-1949

St. John Ambulance

St. Johns’s Ambulance Certificates for Elsie K. Hollis – 1938-1939

Scouts

Scouts Gallery

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Issues Documents Held at Kew 1290-1817          Bankruptcy Notices 1800-1899

Bankrupts

John Waldron 1762-1766           Default Hearing – Alfred Hunt 1878          Robert Eddolls 2001

Census Returns Transcripts

1841          1851          1861          1871          1881          1891          1901          1911          1921

For strays from the the various census years please see the strays Index document found under emigration and migration.  Please Note the 1911 Census includes parts of Stratton recorded in the Rodbourne Enumeration District

1939 Register

Part 1          Part 2

Children

Children Gallery

Children’s Corner Evening Advertiser 1947           Children’s Corner Evening Advertiser 1948

Communications

Postcard sent from Stratton to Bath 1904          Postcard Sent to Miss K. Bond 1915           Stratton Telephone Numbers

Deaths

Death Notices in the Swindon Advertiser 2025

Divorce and Separation

Marriage Separation Notice 1801

Elections, Politics, Polls and Voters Lists

Poll Book 1705 Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 Voters List 1831 Voters Lists Revisions 1843
Poll Book 1868 Electoral Lists Revision Court 1902 Labour Candidates for Rural and Parish Elections 1931 Labour Party Candidates 1931 Mrs Darlings Phenomenal Poll Success 1937
Labour Party Candidates 1937 Nominee – Annie Ada Florence Brooks 1937 Local Election Results 2015 Local Election Results 2017 Local Election Results 2018
Local Election Results 2019        
Incidents at Elections and Political Gatherings

Political Gathering at Stratton 1847           Horse -play at Parliamentary Election 1880

Parliamentary Petitions

Malt Tax & CofE Rituals 1866

Family Notices

1850-1899          1900-1949           1950-1999

Funeral Reports

Wailing Widow – Mrs. John Gay 1843          William George Prowse 1940          Death of “Cheeky Monkey” 2010

General Items

Missing Child 1850          Overseas Marriage McCaw/Ford 1921

Other Stratton People

Health & Wellbeing

Disease

Cholera Outbreak 1854

Mental Health

Residents Admitted to Asylums 1854-1918

Inquest Reports

1800-1849

Inquest Reports 1840-1940 Unnamed Boy 1826 John Cully 1845 Henry Fisher 1860 Illegitimate Fry Child 1864 Michelle Anne Glastonbury 1972
Fanny Hatherill 1869          
William Horton 1868 John House 1851 Edward Kimber 1858 Fanny Large 1851 Cornelius Loveday 1857 Jeremiah Loveday 1869
James Minal 1859 William Ody 1915 William Page 1847 Paul Rowley 2015 Frederick Smith 1871 Thomas Toombs 1866
Eliza Jane Tilley 1940          

Local Families

In this section you can find items of interest about a particular family and associated links;

Axford Family

Lifestyle Project story of Ellen Martha Olive Jane Axford born October 1909

Cook Family

Early childhood memoirs of Ernest Ewart Cook

King Family

Beechcroft Road Gallery

Lott Family

Memories of a Stratton Family         Lott Family WWII Identity Cards            Wedding Report of Elsie Cox & Harold Lott 1948           Lott Family Homes 1960s

Powell Family

Powell Gallery           Powell Family Information

Obituaries & Death Notices

Death of a Black Man 1868         W. Osland Hill 1905          Paul Rowley 2015          Violet Sargent 2016           Sarah Taylor 1919          Eliza Wells 1947

Parish Notables

Doomsday book of 1086 shows that the parish was held by Nigel, physician to William the Conqueror. For information about the Parish Notables of Stratton St. Margaret follow the link

People News

Cholera Outbreak 1854          Miss Garrard Contest 1966

Personal Research Items

Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts – These items were donated by Ken Tuck and contains entries that may or may not relate to the Tuck family however they have been published as such. Many references to Quaker entries may be found from across the county.

Sport

Athletics

Young Athletes Gain PBs 2014

Badminton

Stratton Hostel v Chippenham Community Centre 1953

Football

Football Clubs Gallery

Youth Football Team Late 1960s           Youth Club Football Team 1969

Hunting

Hunt Meetings 1800-1899            Hunt Meetings 1900 – Present

Miscellaneous Sports

Quoits Club Annual Outing 1902

Pigeon Racing

Pigeon Racing Annual Awards 1956

Strange Tales

Sea Serpent Ashore 1856

Taxes

Tax List 1332           Rate Receipt Book 1924

Wedding Reports

Weddings Gallery

King to Vincent 1905          Manners to King 1919 

Poor Law, Charity and the Workhouse

Charities

Charity Gallery

  John Herring Trust 1725-Present Mary Horne Charity 1794-1903
Sale of Swindon Church & Poor Lands at Cannons Close 1884 Thomas Arthur Beale and his Collecting Dog, Bruce. 1905-1915 Mad March Hare Run for Cancer 2012
Memorial Fund for Guide Dog 2014 Guide Dog Nutmeg Brings Alan Fletcher New Joy 2015 Stratton Charities
Emergency Funds for Stratton Charities 2020    

Poor Law

General Poor Law Matters

Poor Law Report 1840          Poor Law Rating Question 1863

Medical Matters

Medical Relief 1837

Removal Orders and Settlements

Removal Orders 1729-1830           Settlement Examinations 1786-1794

Supplies and Tenders

Swindon & Highworth Union Supplies 1838           Poor Law Union Supplies 1847

Public Assistance

Public Assistance Administration 1948           Ration Book Cover for Malcolm Griffiths 1953-1954

Workhouse

Workhouse & Hostels Gallery

Workhouse Attendance Statistics

General Workhouse Matters

Workhouse and Hospital 1777-1999          Workhouse & Hospital Newspaper Extracts

Workhouse Births and Deaths

Newspaper Notices 1800-1950          Workhouse & Hospital Deaths 1850-1982          Death at the Workhouse 1901

Workhouse & Institution Census

1841          1851          1861          1871          1881          1891          1901          1911          1921

Workhouse Crime

Workhouse Crime 1835-1850           Assault by Elizabeth A. Dodson 1877          Tearing Up Clothes 1878

Workhouse Inmates

Paupers in the Highworth Workhouse 1860          Stratton Folk Born in the Workhouse 1866-1914          Workhouse People Newspaper Extracts

Workhouse News

1777-1849

Workhouse Staff

Staff Required at St. Margaret’s Institution 1947

Probate

Wills held at WSHC

Estate Notices

Claims on the Estate of Frederick Fairclough 2014 Estate Notice of William George 1837 Estate Notice of John Inman 2015 Estate Notice of John Kemble 1840
Estate of Charles Morse 1877 Death & Estate Notice of W. H. Scott, 1954    

Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held

Lord Sandys 1633

Parishioners Wills

Edward Curtis Proved 1828          William Richman Dated 1647           William Richman Dated 1650           William White proved 1842

Sales of Buildings & Land for Probate Purposes

Estates of Thomas Tuckey 1860

War, Conflict and Military Matters

War Memorials & Military Gallery          Stratton St. Margaret Military Graves          Stratton at War Gallery

Boer War

Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry Casualties 1899-1902

General Military Items

Military Articles           McKenzie, trial of Mercenary 1976          WWII Unexploded Mortar 2001           Prisoner of War Camps 2010

Muster Rolls

North Wiltshire Muster Roll 1539 (Netherstratton)           North Wiltshire Muster Roll 1539 (Overstratton)

Servicemen & Women

Military Service Records          Chelsea Pensioners 1808-1828           Good Service Certificate Lionel A. H. C. Frampton 1929-1937

For the latest list of casualties of war go to Stratton St. Margaret War Memorial List and for available photographs of the memorial stones to the fallen

War Memorials & Remembrance

New War Memorial by 2014 Milestone 2012           Peace Memorial 2014           Peace Memorial Dedication Order of Service 2014

St. Philip The Deacon Remembrance Service 2014           Order of Service for First Remembrance Service at the Peace Memorial 2014           Remembrance Service at the Peace Memorial 2015

Wiltshire Regiments

Servicemen & Families with the 1st Wilts. Regt. in South Africa 1911

WWI

Awards and Medals

Military Medal Awarded 1918

British Red Cross/VAD Volunteers

V.A.D. & Red Cross Hospitals 1914-1918          British Red Cross VAD Volunteers 1914-1918          Local Nurses and War Work 1919

VAD Volunteers

Bertha Looker 1915 -1999 

Casualties

Francis Taylor 1918

Ford Family

Ford Family in WWI – their story

WWII

Casualties

WWII Civilian Deaths 1939-1945

General WWII Items

War Time Snippets from the Evening Advertiser 1939-1945           Local Heroes 1941          Civil Defence Posting Notice – Miss E. M. P. Cox 1943          WWII Memories

Acknowledgements and Contributors

Thanks to the following for supplying pictures, articles or family histories/memories.

Arkell’s Mandy Ball Baptist Churches BMW Edward Browning Margaret Brunger
Clive Carter Roy Cartwright Julie Cook Stuart Dobson Robin Earle Eastman Family
Colin Finch Ford Family Susan Griffiths Mike Gunstan Hinders Hobbs Family
Gregory Jackowski Phil King Kings College, Cambridge Kingsdown School London Archives Lott Family
David Macey Network Rail Barry Odey Alan Pellymounter Powell family Stratton St. Margaret Memories Facebook Page
Stratton St. Margaret Parish Council‎ David Suchodola‎ Swindon Advertiser Swindon Library Swindon on the Change Facebook Page Swindon Past & Present Facebook Page
Ken Tuck Brenda Williams Paul Williams Wiltshire Family History Society Wiltshire Museum  
           

A very special mention to the many conversations had with local residents and community groups who have shared memories and given valuable insights which have contributed to the building of this page and the other Stratton pages on this website.