The re-imagined story …
Do you believe that a house can retain memories? Have you ever visited a house and felt it had an atmosphere?
“Can’t you feel it?”
“All I can feel is damp. I bet this place hasn’t got a damp course.”
The row of stone-built cottages had once overlooked the canal before it was filled in, but it wasn’t damp that I was feeling.
“This could be a happy home,” I suddenly blurted out, but that wasn’t the plan. We were looking for a cheap property to renovate and sell on. “I could happily live here.”
“Really! Have you seen the bathroom?”
I wondered who had once lived here. Not recently, we knew who the vendors were, I mean in the past. Who had lived here when it was a brand-new property? How many children had squeezed into the bedroom upstairs, one of only two in the beginning? I bet there was a clothes line running the length of that long garden, full of washing every Monday; pinafore dresses and shirts, lots of shirts and overalls. I wondered how many meals had been eaten around the kitchen table? How many prayers had been said in this house?
I wasn’t quite sure what I was feeling – well, I did but if I blurted it out Darren would think I’d lost the plot. Ha, I know he sometimes has his doubts about me anyway.
This had been a busy house, but there was something else about the place, a sense of serenity. This was a house of God, a house where God had resided. I could just imagine telling Darren that.
“Let’s get back to the estate agent. See if there’s any movement on the price. Personally, I think they’re asking too much for it. And I bet it hasn’t got a damp course.”
The facts …
Death of Mrs Gibbs
Interesting Reminiscences
Rode on a Stage Coach and Electric Trams
There was laid to rest in Swindon Cemetery on Thursday in last week the mortal remains of Mrs Mary Gibbs, late of 120 Broad Street, and widow of the late Mr William Gibbs, who resided for many years at 46, Cambria Place, Swindon. The deceased lady, who had attained to the great age of 88 years, and retained all her faculties to the end, was an interesting personality. She was probably the oldest member of the Baptist community in Swindon, and was in the service of the Rev. Richard Breeze, before he came to Swindon and opened a Baptist Church here at the corner of Fleet Street and Bridge Street. Her late husband, who died 17 years ago, was one of the pioneers of the Ancient Order of Foresters in Swindon, and assisted at the opening of Court “Briton’s Pride,” A.O.F., and also the “Vale of White Horse” Court, Shrivenham. He was himself initiated a member of the Order at Abingdon, when he was residing at Sutton Courtenay, and remained a Forester until his death, having been a member for over fifty years.
The deceased lady was born at Lechlade, and her earliest recollections of Swindon was riding through this part of the country on a stage coach. What is now known as New Swindon then comprised only green fields. She lived to see the whole of the land built on, the electricity works opened in the neighbourhood where she resided, and more than once rode on the electric trams, notwithstanding her great age.
Her husband worked on the GWR during the construction of the line between Didcot and Swindon. He was connected with the Baptist Church, and took a leading part in the opening of the Rehoboth Baptist Chapel at the top of Rolleston Street, Swindon.
At the funeral of the deceased lady the burial service was conducted by Mr. S. Chappell, of the Rehoboth Baptist Church. The mourners included deceased’s five sons, Charles, William, Harry, George and John Gibbs, a grand-daughter, two grand-sons, and other relatives and friends.
There were many beautiful wreaths and other floral tributes placed on the grave.
The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, July 16, 1909.
Mary Gibbs 88 years 120 Broad Street burial 8th July 1909 plot number B2073
1871 census
Cambria Place
William Gibbs Head of household 47 Platelayer born Swindon
Mary Gibbs wife 49 born Berks Coleshill
Charles H. Gibbs son 21 Boiler Smith born Berks. Sutton
William J. Gibbs son 19 Boiler Smith born Stratton
Henry H. Gibbs son 17 Moulder born Stratton
Mary J. Gibbs daughter 15 Domestic Servant born Stratton
Edward J. Gibbs son 12 Scholar born Stratton
George Gibbs son 9 Scholar born Stratton
John Gibbs son 6 Scholar born Stratton
Radnor Street Cemetery 