Rodbourne is one of Swindon's proudest and most historic communities. DOMINIC PONSFORD looks at a project that aims to preserve that history for posterity

A UNIQUE project is being launched this weekend to create a multi-media historic archive of Rodbourne.

The Rodbourne Living Story project is being carried out by English Heritage's National Monuments Record Office, based next to the Steam railway museum in Churchward.

The archive of historic buildings is creating a record of past and present life in Rodbourne over the coming year.

Written and spoken accounts are being collected as well as documents and photographs to go on a computer archive which will be made available to residents.

The name Rod-bourne is believed to have originally meant Reedy Brook.

Up until the 1840s the parish consisted of little more than a few farms.

Then the Great Wes-tern Railway works came and everything changed.

Houses were built for the Great Western Railway workers and two churches, shops and a school followed.

Organising the project for English Herit-age is Jane Golding.

She said: "The Rodbourne Living Story Project aims to bring the local community together by telling the story of life in Rodbourne, past and present.

"We have chosen Rod-bourne because it is where we are based and as the site of the GWR works it is an interesting community.

"We want to hear about people's memories, find out how close the community is and we are hoping we will bring the community closer together."

Along those contributing to the project are Norah Cottrell, 73, who has lived in the parish all her life.

She said: "When I was growing up it was a very nice place.

"Where we lived the whole block of houses was built for people who worked in the railway factory.

"They all moved in together and most of them died together.

"I married at an early age and moved around to Bruce Street and I've been here ever since.

"I've got some very happy memories of Rodbourne, people are very helpful and always there to help you.

"It is still a nice place to live.

"It was all railway workers but now there are more youngsters moving in and first-time buyers.

"You don't see neighbours as much as you used to but that's because everybody works.

"We still class ourselves as a little village between the two railway bridges."

As well as the National Monuments Record Centre, Steam, Swindon Library Service and Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office are involved in the project as well as St Augustine's Church and Rodbourne Methodist Church.

An open morning for the scheme is being held at Even Swindon Community Centre in Jennings Street on Satur-day from 10am to 2pm.

There will be the chance to see what maps, photographs and other documents have already been brought to together.

Visitors to the open morning will also be invited to share their memories of Rodbourne for the archive.

For more details call Swindon 414735.