Shared description
The Swindon College site, Regent Circus, Swindon
Written by Brian Robert Marshall
There has been a college of some sort on, or more correctly, near the site since 1895 when Swindon Technical College was built. It is a fine example of late Victorian municipal architecture. In the 1960s the College was greatly expanded with the opening of a large, multi-floor building to the west of the Victorian original, which remained in use. The architecture and general construction of the new building was typical of its era and not, perhaps, particularly visually stunning. However, it served its purpose and no doubt many of its alumni have moved on to great things aided by the education and training received there. By the turn of the new millennium it was clear that the site had had its day and a new college on North Star Avenue was opened later in the first decade and in 2006 the Regent Circus was vacated. By 2007 the site had been sold to developers and all looked set for a radical change to the location Link
(video).However, soon after the economic climate around the world changed for the worse sparked by the banking crisis of 2008 and Swindon was not immune to its effects. As a result the site lay derelict and deteriorating for the next four years. In 2011 however, planning permission was granted for a complete redevelopment of the site for commercial uses mostly comprising retail and leisure. Importantly, the old Victorian college is to be saved and converted into offices. In 2012 work started in earnest with the demolition over several weeks of the 1960s college, and in the spring of 2013, construction of the new development began. By November construction was well underway and completion is expected by summer 2014 Link
There has been a college of some sort on, or more correctly, near the site since 1895 when Swindon Technical College was built. It is a fine example of late Victorian municipal architecture. In the 1960s the College was greatly expanded with the opening of a large, multi-floor building to the west of the Victorian original, which remained in use. The architecture and general construction of the new building was typical of its era and not, perhaps, particularly visually stunning. However, it served its purpose and no doubt many of its alumni have moved on to great things aided by the education and training received there. By the turn of the new millennium it was clear that the site had had its day and a new college on North Star Avenue was opened later in the first decade and in 2006 the Regent Circus was vacated. By 2007 the site had been sold to developers and all looked set for a radical change to the location Link
(video).However, soon after the economic climate around the world changed for the worse sparked by the banking crisis of 2008 and Swindon was not immune to its effects. As a result the site lay derelict and deteriorating for the next four years. In 2011 however, planning permission was granted for a complete redevelopment of the site for commercial uses mostly comprising retail and leisure. Importantly, the old Victorian college is to be saved and converted into offices. In 2012 work started in earnest with the demolition over several weeks of the 1960s college, and in the spring of 2013, construction of the new development began. By November construction was well underway and completion is expected by summer 2014 LinkCreated: Sat, 23 Nov 2013, Updated: Sat, 23 Nov 2013
35 images use this description:
2022
2014
2014
2014
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2010
2008
2007
2007
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2013 Brian Robert Marshall.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
View images using this "The Swindon College site, Regent Circus, Swindon" Shared Description
View images mentioning the words [The Swindon College site, Regent Circus, Swindon] anywhere in text
Links for SU1584
This description is located in SU1584.
Other shared descriptions
Descriptions nearby
- Footbridge over the Paddington to the west railway, Stratton
- Swindon Station
- The Duke of Wellington and the George, Swindon
- Swindon and Wiltshire Pride 2017
- Richard Jefferies sculpture
- St. Marks Church, Swindon
- Swindon Mens Shed
- Swindon, Wiltshire
- Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway
- Iffley Road Gas Works, Swindon
- Howse Gardens, Swindon
- New water feature, Swindon
- Town Gardens, Swindon
- Great Quarry SSSI Swindon
- Swindon Mela
- George Gay Gardens, Queens Drive, Swindon
- Pickard’s Small Field, Gorse Hill, Swindon
Related descriptions
- Pickard’s Small Field, Gorse Hill, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 7 images
- Iffley Road Gas Works, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 13 images
- Great Quarry SSSI Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 2 images
- Howse Gardens, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 4 images
- Swindon Mela
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 15 images
- Former Even Swindon School, Hughes Street, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 17 images
- New water feature, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 5 images
The above selections are automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions
