As we come close to the end of this season for the Annual Exhibition there are rumours rife concerning the future of the Air Raid Shelter. Although the demise of the Hospital Building seems more than likely, as yet we have had no hint or official information relating to a similar fate for the shelter or the Old Hospital Cottages.
Heritage Open Days
We took part once again in English Heritage’s “Heritage Open Days” on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of September.
The Exhibition opened on Saturday from 10.00am until 4.30 pm and Sunday from 2.00pm until 5.00pm. During these hours we had at least 300 visitors a figure we have maintained over the many years we have taken part in this event. They came from all over Britain and abroad as well as the local community. It is to hoped that the relevant authorities will note this when considering the future of this part of Cirencester which is under threat of redevelopment.
Tuesday 31st May 175th Anniversary of the opening of the Cirencester Town Station
The exhibitions in the Town Station by the local Railway Societies, Cirencester Camera Club and ourselves created a great deal of interest with an estimated 700+ visitors during the day. Many expressed their appreciation of the chance to visit this long neglected Grade 2 listed building which was designed originally by Isambard Kingdom Brudel the world famous engineer and railway pioneer. During the day a new plaque was unveiled on the outside of the building. This was provided by Cirencester Civic Society one of the groups responsible for the organisation of the day.
The plaque replaced an earlier one which suggested that Brunel probably designed the station, the new one confirming that this was the case.
The LMHA’s contribution was an exhibition, in the former Board Room of the Station on the first floor, visited no doubt by Brunel himself during the early days of the GWR. The exhibition consisted of information, photographs and artefacts relating to the Town Station and its influence during the Second World War. The subjects covered included the part played in the Evacuation, the Home Guard defence of the station and the town and the air raid precautions [ARP] relating to the station. There was also a board setting down a possible future use of the building as a Community facility including a new expanded home for our Exhibition at present housed in the Old Memorial Hospital cottages.