We take a verbatim look back at when JOHN STRETTON was given an insight into Swindon’s new £11m railway museum.
WEDNESDAY June 14, 2000 will become an important day in the history of Swindon and its railways.
After many years, alternative suggestions, trials and tribulations along the way, this date was due to mark the formal opening of ‘STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway’.
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Built in the old 20 Shop of Brunel’s magnificent GWR railway works, the project has taken close on two years from conception to completion.
Costing £11 million to design, convert and construct, and taking in excess of 160,000 man hours and 400 workmen, it is set to become one of the major attractions in the region, expecting to attract more than 180,000 visitors in its first year, rising to 200,000 annually.
Situated between the successful McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Village – which already sees more than 5m visitors a year – and the National Monuments Record Office, the ‘Steam’ museum lies next to what is likely to become a World Heritage Site – Brunel’s Great Western Main Line – and has been conceived with flair and imagination, sufficient to draw international attention, as well as patrons from all corners of the UK.
Designed to appeal to all the family, the museum celebrates not just the town’s railway heritage, but also the skills and stories of the people who built the GWR – in its heyday, one of the most important industrial concerns in Europe.
Equally, the new enterprise breaks new ground for the concept of museums, being a guided tour through various aspects of railway operations under steam, taking the visitor by way of mock-up offices, foundry and machine shops to the finished product and the building and development of the wider railway.
Hands-on displays, videos and unique railway memorabilia, in addition to famous and honoured former GWR locomotives, will bring it all to life. The story of Swindon Works is told as well as the remarkable stories of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’.
The designers stress that the depiction of the railway and cultural heritage is important, but emphasis is being placed on touch, noise and smells – to create excitement for the visitor.
Forty mannequins have been especially created to bring an impression of life to some exhibits and there will be special visits arranged for school and tourist parties.
Tim Bryan, curator of the recently-closed GWR Museum, in the town’s Faringdon Road, said: “Whilst the old museum has been popular and successful over its 37-year life, the premises there were not ideal and in part very cramped. Many smaller, but very important GWR artefacts, such as historical paperwork, plans and photographs, literally did not see the light of day.
“Now, we have purpose-built facilities to properly exhibit those items needed on view to tell the story of Swindon.
“It is also important to report that the ‘Friends’ of the museum have been consulted during the planning and construction stage,” he added. “They have been helpful in many areas, not least preparing the locos for their public audience.”
As well as the exhibition hall, there is an annexe showing work on ‘real’ locos. Publicly accessed by a special viewing gallery, this will house the locomotives, machines and men currently employed in the old 19 Shop, adjacent to the new site.
There is also a conference centre, which can be used for corporate entertainment, a cafe offering special menus for groups, and a temporary exhibition gallery. The building and all displays and exhibits are fully accessible for the disabled.
When the main Works closed on March 27, 1986, it was the end of an era which had lasted for over 140 years and made Swindon famous worldwide. The machines and tools lay idle for over a decade but thankfully intact, allowing this multi-million pound, state-of-the-art museum to be born.
Throughout the rebirth, the Grade II listed 20 Shop has been tastefully re-used, with parts of the original 1840s structure retained.
Funded by a partnership including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Swindon Borough Council, Carillion and BAA McArthurGlen, the transformation has been breathtaking, promising to give locals and visitors alike a memorable experience. With the exhibits enhanced by extra events – such as a Steam Celebration on July 1/2, featuring a free outdoor funfair, street theatre, music and dance performances and a stationary locomotive in steam – the museum certainly promises to be a great success.
