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Designing the Home: Architecture and Archives

The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 2EH

  • 13 Sep 2025
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

Celebrate imaginative and trailblazing examples of architecture of the 'Home' and Swindon by visiting the vast Historic England archives, meet our team and take part in our family friendly activities.

Come and visit Historic England’s archive at the Engine House in Swindon! We are the public archive at Historic England and we are located in the Engine House, which was built in the 1840s and was formally the Great Western Railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineers and Drawing Office. We hold a public archive of architectural and archaeological records and hold over 12 million historic photographs, plans, drawings, reports, records and publications covering England's archaeology, architecture, social and local history.

In a celebration of Architecture, we are hosting activities that reflect the amazing designs of the home and of Swindon. You will have the opportunity to see our collection and the work that we do.
You will have an opportunity to see historical photographs, participate in games and activities as well as go on a tour of the Engine House, which is part of the wider Swindon Heritage Action Zone. You will also be able to participate in a tour of the Archive store itself and gain knowledge regarding our collection and how we preserve and maintain it.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 13 September:
1100-1700. (Please note 1100-1200 & 1600-1700 will be our relaxed/quiet hours)

Location & directions

The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 2EH

Directions:
Near the outlet centre and Bristol Street Tunnel, 10 minute walk from the Bus and Train station.
Contact on day:
Jade Balmer
Telephone number:
+447392127556

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

If you need step free access and need to park on our site for accessibility needs, please contact Jade-India Balmer, [email protected]

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:
6
Est. tour duration:
1 hour(s)

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