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Gilbert’s Hill School

I can’t believe I’ve lived in Swindon as long as I have without having come across this gem. Tucked away in a side street off Eastcott Road is this charming school building, Gilbert’s Hill Girls’ and Infants’ School. Built in 1880 and enlarged in 1889 and served the community as an infant school until 2000. Despite protests from parents, the school eventually closed with just 34 children on the roll. This was down from figures of over 400 in 1895 and 65 in 1964. It was then developed into flats. However the renovation was undertaken sensitively such that the building retains an almost identical external appearance. Indeed according the the Wiltshire Gazzette and Herald, the last head teacher was invited back by the developer to view completion of the conversion to flats whereupon she gave the renovation her seal of approval.

However, this isn’t the only gem in Dixon Street as immediately opposite is the Swindon Moravion Church which has been welcoming worshipers since 1899.

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