Local Studies

We all know that Valentine is the patron saint of lovers… of history! So if you are a history lover and are aged 14-18, come to Central Library today to find out about study and career options.

We’re so excited for Choosing History, and can’t wait to give tours of the Local Studies collection! We’re thrilled that the North Wiltshire Young Archaeologists’ Club will also be joining us with an information stand and a handling collection 🥳

Roses are red, violets are blue, we have a heritage careers day for you! (Plus tours of Local Studies at 11am and 12pm!)

Are you crazy about classics? Do you dig archaeology? Are you head over heels for history? Show your love this Valentine’s Day by attending our heritage careers event! Come and chat to our friendly heritage and education professionals to learn about career and study options.

Save the date! Choosing History, our heritage careers event for teenagers, will be returning on Saturday 14th February!

Happy New Year! Have you made a resolution to research your family or house history? Perhaps you’re taking up a new sport or hobby and want to know the history of your club. We can help! Our normal opening hours have resumed, so why not pop in and see us.

We are now closed for the Christmas holidays, and will reopen on Saturday 3rd January at 10am. We’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you in 2026!

Our knitted Richard Jefferies is getting into the festive spirit! This is just a reminder that we will be closing at the earlier time of 2pm on Christmas Eve, and will reopen on Saturday 3rd January.

Local Studies will be closed on Saturday 13th December due to a shortage of staff. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Please note we will be closing early on Wednesday 24th December, and will reopen on Saturday 3rd January.

Local Studies is based on the 2nd floor of Swindon Central Library. We are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am-4pm, and Saturdays 10am-1pm. Alternatively, you can email your query to localstudies@swindon.gov.uk. #EYAYourArchive

On 24th August 1960, Harold Jolliffe, Swindon’s Borough Librarian and Curator, asked the people of Swindon to save and donate material for a Local Studies collection. The Local History room subsequently opened in 1962. #EYAAnniversaries

If your group is unable to visit the Local Studies collection, we can come to you! We’ve given free talks about Swindon’s history to community groups, care homes and charities. Email localstudies@swindon.gov.ukto find out more. #EYAInclusion

We’ve already uploaded more than 10,000 photos to our online Flickr gallery, and we’re adding more all the time! You can view them at flickr.com/photos/swindon… #EYADigital

Alligators played an important role in Koringa’s variety act, but things went awry during her performance at the Empire Theatre in 1947, when one of her reptilian friends fell into the orchestra pit! #EYAPets

The people of Swindon were begging for silence during the cricket plague of 1923! The noise was so unrelenting that it was blamed for nervous breakdowns exacerbated by lack of sleep. #EYASilence

‘Institutiones clericorum in comitatu Wiltoniae’ lists the appointments of Wiltshire clergy from 1297-1810. This page shows the high turnover of clergy in Wiltshire during the Black Death, most of whom were appointed due to the death of their predecessor. #EYAMedieval

This 1821 reprint of John Speed’s map of Wiltshire from 1611 has to be one of the prettiest maps in our collection. He’s even included a little dog visiting Stonehenge! #EYABeauty

This lovely illustration by Richard Doyle is taken from Thomas Hughes’ ‘The Scouring of the White Horse’. Crowds would attend to ‘scour’ and preserve the White Horse at Uffington, while also taking part in horse races, backswording bouts and cheese rolling. #EYAConservation

Local Studies will be closed on Saturday 22nd November due to a shortage of staff. We apologise for any inconvenience.