For our last talk, we were pleased to welcome Heritage Architect Michael Gray to talk about the Baptist Tabernacle, which stood very near the centre of Swindon where the current Pilgrim Centre is now situated. Michael is interested in finding a new purpose for the Tabernacle Stones, and in thinking about it, suggested a project which would be unique to Swindon. This was the online introduction to the talk from our website:
'In 2006 Swindon Borough Council took delivery of 2,000 large carved limestone blocks, that when re-assembled make-up a giant temple front that once adorned the centre of Swindon. The Council had aspirations to re-instate this local landmark as an expression of civic pride but despite their noble ambitions, the portico remains in pieces, stored away and almost forgotten.
In this talk Heritage Architect Michael Gray explains the history of the stones, their classical design and meaning. He will discuss similar projects that have involved the reuse of classical artefacts, and examine the ideas that have been suggested for the stones before introducing a new scheme for discussion.'
Michael began by saying a bit about the buildings in the centre of the town, here's the first Baptist Tabernacle built in 1865 on the corner of Bridge Street to accommodate the growing numbers of railway workers:
In 1891 the Town Hall, designed by
Brightwen Binyon was built half way between the railway Village and Old Town, possibly creating a centre of the town, on land acquired from Colonel William Vilett Rolleston. But before getting further into the history of the Tabernacle, Michael gave us an interesting thought: big, important roundabouts often have monuments in the centre of them, think about the
Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris:
Holding the thought of the fabulous Arc de Triomphe, it was a small step to consider that perhaps the Tabernacle Stones could be reassembled in the middle of our iconic roundabout? It's a great image, and a great thought, but totally impractical.
By 1886, a larger Baptist Tabernacle was needed, two architects were selected to design a building, a Mr Read was selected, and as was the fashion at that time, the building was of a classical design, influenced by Andre Palladio, 1508-80, and the subsequent Palladian movement. It can be seen above, it required 300 tons of Bath stone to build, and was 15 metres wide, and 11 metres tall, as you can see there are 6 Greek columns at the front, and behind the impressive facade, is an ordinary building which seated 1000 people, more than the
Mechanics Institute which could seat 900.
Above plans of the front of the building, and below with little or no regard for health and safety, two workmen can be seen cleaning pigeon poo off the ledge at the top of the front of the building. This was thought to be in 1950.
As the congregation declined, other uses were considered for the building, one of them being, as a home for Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, which had been in Apsley House since 1930, that didn't happen and in 1976, there were demonstrations and speeches by Sir John Betjeman about how it must be saved. Demolition despite
protests took place in 1978, with Peter Shaw giving consent.
It looks as though it was demolished using a skip on a chain. The stones however were dismantled and saved, and a couple of buyers came forward wanting to add the columns to the front of their house to gain the
Croome House effect, as seen below:
Stanley Frost was a potential buyer, but couldn't get planning permission to add them to his house. Neil Taylor also bought them and took them to Northampton in 1993, but again couldn't get planning permission.
The idea of erecting the stones again in Swindon has always been very popular, and in 2004, it was proposed they front the new Museum and Art Gallery beside a new shopping centre with a curved arcade, linking to the Brunel centre. Modus Limited, the company behind this went bust in 2007/8, and that was the end of that plan.
This is an interesting view where you can see that behind the museum and art gallery, there was a plan to build a very large tower block.
The stones are now up at the Science Museum site near Wroughton and are capable of being reassembled and being very fine quality dressed stone, they have not deteriorated
Here's a reconstruction of what remains:
Michael went on to consider where it was possible to erect Palladian columns, in the landscape, as in this Poussin painting? Lawn maybe?
Lawn possibly?
By a swimming pool as at Casina del Lago, how would they translate at Coate Water?
As these examples show, it would be amusing to erect the Tabernacle Stones in random places around Swindon, but maybe far better to put them as the frontage to a new museum and art gallery in the proposed Cultural Quarter in the centre of town? This is something we need to consider as plans for moving the museum and art gallery collections from their current home in Apsley House move forward.
And coincidentally, today Swindon Libraries have a jigsaw of the Baptist Tabernacle to do, why not have a go? 
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