Photograph of popular head Mrs Coleman & pupils of Hook School, 1958/9. Interviewed by Lord Bolingbroke for the job, she was at the school for 20 years. Search Hook School.
Featuring portraits, furniture and architecture, as well as letters, photographs, memories and manuscripts, we are continuously creating special interest collections of artefacts and records that offer fascinating guided tours through Lydiard Park’s historic past.
The Lydiard Archives provide a fascinating glimpse into the wedding days of couples who tied the knot at Lydiard Tregoze over three centuries. From marking the occasion with dignified rows of family members in the Victorian era to happy couples and gaggles of bridesmaids in postwar Britain, this special collection is constantly expanding.
Fragments of the Bishop’s Transcripts (copies of the parish registers) for Lydiard Tregoze survive from 1607 with the burial of James Gardiner in May of that year. However, this was not the first burial in the churchyard surrounding the ancient church of St. Mary’s.
On March 15th 1917, Vernon Henry St.John (1896-1974), turned 21 years, becoming the 7th Viscount St.John and 6th Viscount Bolingbroke. This collection, drawn together to mark the anniversary of his death 50 years ago, recalls that memorable Spring day when representatives of the tenantry presented the young viscount with a magnificent silver rose bowl on the steps of Lydiard House.
The parish of Lydiard Tregoze contained a number of medium-sized farms. The stories of some of the people who owned, lived, or worked on the farms in the twentieth century have been told in a remarkable series of memoirs and diaries, while the history of the farms and its workers before this time can be found in documents such as wills and parish records.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we start to see advertisements for jewellery, with suggestions to buy the person you love a special piece of jewellery or even a diamond ring. This therefore seemed a good time to take a look at the jewellery worn by some of the St.John ladies.
The Lydiard Archives are a unique digital collection of objects, records, reports and ephemera documenting the thousand-year history of Lydiard House and Park. Created by volunteers with a passion for preservation and accessibility, The Lydiard Archives are managed by The Friends of Lydiard Park, an independent charity formed to protect, conserve and educate people about this beautiful historic estate with its Palladian house, ancient church, walled garden, and rolling parkland.