Tribute unveiled to architect who shaped some of Swindon’s most iconic buildings

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

A Victorian architect who changed the face of Swindon has been honoured with a plaque and portrait at one of his buildings.

It’s all been a bit of a political earthquake in Swindon with the borough turning from blue to red.

On page 4 we hear from new council leader Jim Robbins, who will be telling us Labour’s plans now they’re in control of the borough council, and we hear from Gary Sumner, the new leader of the opposition on the Tory side.

One thing that always sticks in my craw are those seemingly intelligent people who say ‘I don’t vote because politicians are all the same.’

This huge generalisation displays stupidity in abundance. Most local councillors, whatever their political affiliation, are there for the right reasons and are good people just trying to help. We should always remember that.

Descendants of prominent Swindon families of the era were among the guests who gathered at Sanford House to honour Brightwen Binyon.

Sanford House, formerly Sanford Street School, is home to several charities, and the unveiling was hosted by Voluntary Action Swindon and organised by local historian, author and researcher Martin Robbins.

Binyon designed the striking building, along with the Town Hall and the expansion of the Mechanics’ Institute in the early 1890s.

Alumni of the school included Swindon Town and England player Harold Fleming, building company founder Edward William Beard, who worked beyond his 100th birthday, and GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer Frederick Hawksworth.

The inscription on the plaque reads: “Renowned

Quaker architect who was a passionate campaigner for Christian education of the working class.

“He designed Swindon Town Hall, an extension to the Mechanics’ Institution, and various Swindon Schools including Sanford Street School.

“His wider works including, Sunderland Town Hall, is said to have inspired his grandson Sir Bernard Feilden who was one of the most important international conservation architects of the 20th Century.”

The School was named after Charlotte Sanford (1824-1910) of the Sanford family of Nynehead Court, Somerset, who married into the prominent Swindon Goddard family.

The unveiling, pictured, was performed by Edward Sanford, a descendant of Charlotte. A member of the Goddard family, Milly Goddard, was also present. A talk about Brightwen Binyon’s life and achievements was delivered by conservation architect Michael Gray, who said Binyon had a knack of producing excellent buildings economically.

The school, Mr Gray said, was designed to accommodate 794 boys at all age levels, and he showed an original design for the structure by Binyon.

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