Lydiard Park: 500 Years of Swindon's Stately Past

Medieval origins and the St John family

Lydiard Park came into the St John family in 1420, when Margaret Beauchamp married Oliver St John. Margaret had inherited the estate from her father and passed it to her second son, Oliver. The family remained in possession until 1943 – over five centuries. Through Margaret Beauchamp, the St Johns gained the title Viscount Bolingbroke and claimed a distant connection to King Henry IV. The estate evolved from a medieval hunting lodge and traditional manor house into something grander.

The Palladian transformation

The current Lydiard House took shape in the 1740s. John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke, and his wife Anne Furnese commissioned a major remodelling, funded largely by Anne's wealth. The house was transformed into an impressive Palladian mansion with symmetrical façades, a grand entrance, classical architectural details including an elaborate pediment, corner towers, and ornate window surrounds.

The south and east fronts were reworked in Palladian style, probably by the architect Roger Morris. The result is one of Wiltshire's finest 18th-century country houses – elegant, proportioned, and built to impress.

Decline and sale

The family's fortunes declined in the 19th century. The house fell into neglect, and by the early 20th century the estate was heavily mortgaged. Following Lady Bolingbroke's death in 1940, the estate was sold. Swindon Corporation – the predecessor of Swindon Borough Council – purchased the property in 1943. It was a bold and far-sighted decision: a growing industrial town acquiring a stately home and park for its citizens. The house was opened to the public in 1955 and has been a treasured community asset ever since.

Lydiard Park today

Today Lydiard Park is managed by Swindon Borough Council. The house operates as a museum with changing exhibitions, and the grounds include the walled garden, St Mary's Church (with its famous St John monuments), and 260 acres of parkland. The park hosts events throughout the year – from outdoor theatre and concerts to Christmas markets. It remains a place where Swindon residents and visitors can experience 500 years of history in a single visit – and where a stately past has been preserved for everyone to enjoy.