Furniture - Lydiard Mansion by N. J. Dowden, 1972

Mr Dowden (Norman?) worked for the Borough Architect's department in Swindon Corporation and was involved in the restoration of Lydiard House and purchasing of furnishings for the State Rooms.

'When the Corporation purchased Lydiard Mansion there was not a stick of furniture, picture, or piece of china of any value in the place. All had been disposed of at a prior sale, the only signs of previous occupations being the unfaded patches on the wall coverings where pictures or furniture had been'

Mr Dowden goes on to describe the few items that did remain in the State Rooms in 1943, some early purchases by the Corporation including Dining Room tables, and items provided by the National Art Collection Fund. The walnut desk he refers to was later revealed to be by the Italian cabinet maker Giovanni Socchi and was restored in 2001.

Lydiard House and Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office hold the council's correspondence and records of sale relating to furnishings at Lydiard House.