The re-imagined story …
If you lived in Taunton Street you rubbed shoulders with royalty – railway royalty, that is. The first members of the Mechanics’ Institute Council Mr Grandison and Mr Fairbairn, lived in Taunton Street. Even old Mr Hurst, the first locomotive driver on the GWR, lived there although that was much later.
As a boy I was always in and out of the houses where so many of my friends lived. I used to play with James Bremner, his father was born in Scotland and was one of the first railwaymen to arrive in New Swindon.
But my best friend was Tom Hogarth and his twin brother George. Like my father theirs had moved down from the north-east in the early days of New Swindon.
Me and the Hogarth boys used to have a knock about in the park with an old cricket bat and ball. They were strict in those days, mind. The Works Manager Mr. Gooch published a notice warning parents to keep their children under control and to stop them damaging trees in the Cricket Ground. It was no idle threat either – if caught that boy would never be employed in the Works and his father could lose not only his job but his home as well.
Me and Tom never got up to any trouble though – or at least I don’t remember if we did. My mum would give me a clip round the ear for the slightest thing in those days. I was nimble on my feet, although that could make things worse and lead to a proper pasting when my father got home from work.
We were passionate about our cricket. I was a good little player as a boy, but not as good as Tom and George Hogarth. They went on to play for the GWR team and became famous when they played against the legendary W.G. Grace. Grace was having an unusually bad day and accused the GWR team of foul play and that they had fielded the same player twice. Tom and George had to be brought forward and stood side by side until the great man was convinced there was a pair of identical twins on the GWR team.
I liked James Bremner but Tom Hogarth was always my best friend. We had some fun together, though we never got into any trouble – well, not that I can remember.
The facts …
Thomas Oswald Hogarth was one of twin sons born in a house in Taunton Street on September 10, 1850, the children of William and Isabel[la] Hogarth.
Thomas entered the GWR Works in February 1865 and during a long career served in many roles, firstly as a draughtsman. He then went on to become Timber Inspector in 1883, Assistant Manager of the Saw Mill in 1887, Assistant Manager in the Carriage and Wagon Works in 1895 and in 1901 the Manager. In 1902 he moved to the Saltney & Colcham Carriage Works, Cheshire where he worked until his retirement in 1911.
Thomas led a varied and active life in Swindon, serving on the newly incorporated Swindon Borough Council.
Borough of Swindon
Election of Councillors 1901
To the Burgesses of the North Ward
Ladies and Gentleman – I thank you most sincerely for the honour you have done me in again returning me unopposed as one of your representatives on the above Council and I hope that by carefully guarding your interest, to maintain the confidence reposed in me.
I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Yours obediently,
Thomas Oswald Hogarth “Woodlands” Swindon
Swindon Advertiser Friday November 8, 1901
Among his other interests he served as a director of The Swindon Steam Laundry Co Ltd in 1891.
Thomas married Eliza Ann Morgan, a neighbour from Taunton Street, in 1874 in the Cookham, Berkshire registration area. They began married life back in Taunton Street where they had their four children. Eliza died on April 12, 1890 and at the time of the 1891 census the widowed Thomas was living at 1 Rolleston Crescent with their four children. In 1901, the year before Thomas left Swindon for Cheshire, he was living at Woodlands House, a property allocated to GWR managers.
Old Railway Servant
News was received at Swindon on Friday of the death at Chester of Mr Thomas Oswald Hogarth a prominent Great Western Railway official who retired two years ago. Mr Hogarth, who was 64 years old, was born at Swindon, and entered the service of the Great Western Company as an apprentice in 1866. He became a draughtsman and rose to the position of assistant manager in the carriage and wagon works, retiring two years ago. Mr. Hogarth was a prominent Freemason and his father was the first foreman in the smith’s shop of the company’s works at Swindon.
The Midland Daily Telegraph, Saturday, January 10, 1914
Mr Thomas Oswald Hogarth of The Groves, Chester, engineer, manager of the Great Western Carriage and Waggon Works at Saltney for ten years £1,794.
The Manchester Courier Thursday February 19, 1914.
Hogarth Thomas Oswald of 20 the Groves Chester died 7 January 1914 Probate Chester 6 February to Ethel Pearman (wife of Thomas Edward Alliman Pearman) and William John Hogarth clerk in the Great Western Railway Company. Effects £1794 6s 1d. Resworn £1874 18s 10d.
Thomas died at his home in Chester. The family returned his body to Swindon where he was buried on January 10, 1914 in plot E8245 joining his wife Eliza. Their daughter Beatrice, her husband Henry and two of their children John Robert and Harriet Elizabeth Pease are buried in the neighbouring plot E8246.
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