Fascinating buildings open free for National Heritage weekend

Structures of all shapes, size and diversity will be open across the country free of charge on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September.

In Swindon, the contrast could not be greater - from the ancestral seat of the St John family at Lydiard House, and Old Town's Christ Church, to one of Britain's top fifty buildings according to The Independent newspaper - the Cellular Operations HQ at Peatmoor, right.

CellOps and the Steam Museum have been recognised as outstanding examples of architecture and environmental design and were presented with Civic Trust awards on 9 August.

Open on 8 and 9 September:

Cellular Operations, Peatmoor Lagoon, Swindon Half hour tours from 10.30am to 5pm. Book with Rachael Newman on 546176 or rnewman@cellops.com

Virtual open day at the Mechanics Institute, Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon, 11am - 5pm. Video of ruined interior, displays of what the building could become. Also launch of Surprising Swindon, a new walking guide to historic parts of the town. Organised by New Mechanics Institute Preservation Trust.

Swindon Council community heritage department events

Lydiard House A cavalier in armour will interpret the house's Civil War dramas on Saturday 8th from 11am to 5pm.

Embroidery displays and a chance to meet the volunteer needle women who have created new embroidered window seats. Meet the new lifelike butler figure. On Sunday 9th the great 17th Century triptych showing the St John family tree will be unlocked in St Mary's Church. The photo here is of the monument of Lord Bolingbroke in St Mary's, who supported the Royalist forces during the Civil War.

Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, Old Town Launch of a new exhibition Church and Manor, celebrating the lost manor house of The Lawn, the town's oldest church Holy Rood, and its successor Christ Church, 150 this year.

Holy Rood Church in The Lawn will be open from 2pm to 5pm on both days.

Guided tours of Christ Church take place between 3pm and 4pm. A concert takes place in the church on Sunday afternoon.

Also planned on Sunday 9 September 2.30pm to 4pm: A guided walk along the route of Swindon's canal with experts Henry Smith and Dominic Lamb.

3pm to 4pm: Discovering the Lawn. A guided tour with Charlotte Riggs to see the historic site where the Goddard family manor once stood.

For a copy of the full Swindon Council programme, call 466556 or 770401 for a copy, or pick it up in one of Swindon's libraries, or the tourist information centre in Regent Street.



'Better places for all'

This slogan used by the National Civic Trust will be the theme of a speech by its chief executive Martin Bacon at Swindon College on Thursday 27 September, 7pm at the launch of Swindon's own Civic Trust.

Over 900 such civic societies have been founded across Britain over the last 50 years, and Swindon is only just joining this successful national movement which aims to improve the quality of all the places in which people live.

Martha Parry of the New Mechanics Preservation Trust, an affiliate of the Civic Trust for several years, said, "the Mechanics recognises the need for a separate organisation which gives people the chance to participate and influence the wide range of planning issues which affect the future of Swindon, from the neighbourhood level upwards.

"The Swindon Civic Trust will aim to include as many people as possible in a non-party political way."

All are invited to attend on 27 September. No charge. For further details, call 01793 520592.