Meet the Smiths at The Railway Village Museum

Swindon Heritage Preservation in association with Prime Theatre presents
Meet the Smiths: Life in the Railway Village (1901)

Step out of the modern world and cross the threshold of Swindon’s Railway Village Museum into the year 1901. For this year’s Heritage Open Days, the historic foreman’s cottage throws open its doors for "Meet the Smiths", an immersive, fully interactive living history experience that brings the turn of the century to vibrant life. You can even pop on a flat cap or pinafore to feel more at home!
Instead of a traditional museum tour, you will walk directly into a bustling, working-class home. Costumed actors fully embody the residents of the cottage—the Smith family and their lodger—staying in character to give you an authentic taste of daily life at the dawn of the Edwardian era.
This is history you can talk to. Rather than peering past barriers, you are an invited guest. Engage with the household, ask your burning questions and explore the rooms of the cottage. Discover the realities of strict household budgets, gruelling factory shifts under the Great Western Railway, the shared stories of a live-in lodger, and the deep communal warmth of Swindon’s famous industrial village.
Perfect for all generations, this evocative performance celebrates the real, ordinary people who built modern Swindon. Come knock on the door and step inside—your seat in the parlour is waiting!

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

11:00, 12:30, 14:00

Location & directions

34 Faringdon Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5BJ

Directions:

The Railway Village Museum is at 34 Faringdon Road (SN1 5BJ) in Swindon’s Railway Village. You can view the location on Google Maps here. It is easily accessible by train and bus, with the Central Bus Station and Swindon train station just a short walk away. There are several car parks available around the Railway Village, but we recommend Farnsby Street multi-storey or Bristol Street open Car Park for it’s proximity to the Museum.

Contact on day:

Community Engagement Officer

Telephone number:

+447352334917

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Booking can be made via our website and spaces are limited to 12 per session.

Booking contact name:

Nellie Pitts

Booking website:

https://mechanics-trust.org.uk/events/

Booking opens:

01 Jul 2026 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

19 Sep 2026 09:00 AM

Accessibility details

The Railway Village Museum is a cottage captured in time. There are ramps to access the ground floor although the passage is narrow which restricts entry into certain rooms. There is no lift and the stairs are narrow and steep.

Additional information

Please ensure that you arrive at least 5 minutes before the performance time stated on your ticket. Spaces are limited and demand is high for these performances so we respectfully ask that you only book tickets if you are sure that you can attend. There are no toilets at the Railway Village Museum but the Bakers' Cafe on Emlyn Square will be open for refreshments and exhibitions during HODS.

Max number of people:

12

Estimated duration:

0 hour(s) 45 minute(s)

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