What is now the Central Community Centre started off life in 1861 as a drill hall and armoury for the XI Wiltshire Volunteer Rifle Corps, then in 1871 it became the GWR Medical Fund Hospital until 1960. After some time as a social club for Council workers, it them became a community centre.
The Centre is part of the Railway Village - a whole complex built to house and care for workers of the Great Western Railway works.
The building (like much of the Railway Village) is Grade II listed - for information about the listing see the
Historic England website.
A special mention of Sir Daniel Gooch is appropriate here - he pioneered health care for Swindon workers and even donated £1000 of his own money (a huge amount now let alone in those days) to the hospital fund. The hospital was unique at the time and preceeded the National Health Service by a century.
More information about this history of the building can be found on the
Swindon Web website.
Also take a look at this facinating
photo showing the G.W.R. Hospital decorated for the Coronation in 1911.
Click
here to see the inside of the building.
