Tag: Friends of Lydiard Park

Swindon and District History Network

Last evening I attended the 50th meeting of the Swindon and District History Network. The Network was formed as an initiative by staff in Local Studies at Swindon Central Library to bring together all the various history societies, writers and researchers who regularly used the resources there, to share and support their work. More than thirteen years later the Network continues to thrive and this week saw new and existing members squeeze into the Reading Room in Central Library to celebrate and share our projects.

The Network has been hugely supportive to me as both an individual and as a member of the Swindon Heritage magazine team (published 2013-2017). As one of the original members of the Network, I took the opportunity to thank those societies who opened their archives, contributed articles and supported the magazine across five busy years of publication. I spoke about Mark Sutton, military and local historian, author and co-founder of Swindon Heritage who sadly died last year and is greatly missed on the local history scene in Swindon.

This coming weekend – September 9 and 10 – sees Swindon’s history on display during the Heritage Open Day events (8-17 September) when local history groups show Swindonians what a fascinating history their town has. I will be at the Heritage Apple Day event with the Friends of Lydiard Park in the Walled Garden at Lydiard House on Sunday, September 10 – 11-4 pm.

Our next guided cemetery walk takes place on Sunday September 17. Meet at the Chapel in Radnor Street Cemetery for 2 pm.

Local history is alive and busy in 21st century Swindon – come and join us.

Swindon’s Market and Fair Charter 1626 on display in Central Library, ground floor.

It’s a small (Ody) world!

I recently took part in the hugely popular Cakes and Tales event at Hook Village Hall, Lydiard Tregoze. Held by the Friends of Lydiard Park this popular occasion has become an annual event as part of the Lydiard Tregoze Local History Project.

A general invitation was extended to all past and present residents of Hook village and the surrounding area to bring along their photos and share their memories. My involvement as a Friend of Lydiard Park is in transcribing the diaries of Hook farmer Elliot Woolford who kept a meticulous account of life on Hook Farm for more than 40 years.

I have a few ‘favourite’ families among the former residents of the Lydiards, most especially the Ody family. For me it began with discovering the grave of Noah and Sarah Ody in St. Mary’s churchyard.

Noah was baptised on November 14, 1790 at St Mary’s Church along with his sister Ann, the children of George and Mary Ody. He married Sarah Clark on November 25, 1811 at the parish church of Brinkworth.

Noah and Sarah raised a large family and along with their sons were tenants at Hayes Knoll and Bagbury Farms in Purton; Haxmoor in Purton Stoke; Braydon, Marsh, Flaxlands and Glebe Farms in Lydiard Tregoze and Lower Shaw Farm in the parish of Lydiard Millicent, at various times during the 19th century.

As Oaksey resident Harold Ody proudly told Elspeth Huxley when she was writing her book Gallipot Eyes – a Wiltshire Diary in 1975 – “There’ve been Odys farming in North Wilts for five hundred years,” – and I quite believe him.

At the recent Cakes and Tales event I was delighted to meet Liza and Marilyn who both trace their ancestry back to the three times married Richard Ody (1775-1840) one time gamekeeper to Lord Bolingbroke at Lydiard Park and the elder brother of my Noah (of course he’s not exactly ‘my’ Noah, but you know what I mean).

It was a busy afternoon with lots of people to talk to and not enough time to do it in – but I have Liza and Marilyn’s contact details and will be in touch.

Skip on another couple of weeks …

I received an enquiry on the Radnor Street Cemetery Facebook page concerning the death of Eliza Ody on April 9, 1921 who was buried in the cemetery.

Imagine my disappointment when I was unable to locate the burial! But wait – there had been an error. This was the lady’s maiden name and not the one she was buried with. It transpired that Eliza is buried in a public grave so sadly there will be no headstone to mark the spot, but I was determined to trace this member of the Ody family. And would you believe it – she was a descendant of the aforementioned Richard Ody and his 3rd wife Sarah Beasant.

Well I never, it’s certainly a small (Ody) world!