ID Number – 455.41
Image No – img831
Subject – Commemorative Stone to the first Headmaster Mr H Day
Date – 2005
Donor – RogersStan
Street – Hughes Street
Location – Even Swindon School
School – Even Swindon (ES)
Commemorative Stone to the first Headmaster Mr H Day
Hi. This relates to my Great Grandfather, Henry Day. He married into the Thomas family and developer Charlie Thomas (after whom we believe Thomas Street in Rodbourne is named) became his father-in-law.
Charlie Thomas also owned or had a long lease on The Gluepot.
He was from Bristol originally and came to Swindon with Brunel.
Hi Noel,
Yes you are correct about Thomas Street according to “Roadways-the history of Swindon’s Street Names”, page 58, by Peter Sheldon & Richard Tomkins
RCHG Secretary
Number 32 Thomas Street, where I lived from 6 months old till I was 24, was built by Mr. Day,the first headmaster, I thought he lived there, but cannot find any proof of this (maybe he had second thoughts about being too close to work)My Grandparents moved there in 1908 and my mum took the rent to school every Monday morning.. one morning he gave her an envelope to take to her dad, when she took it home it caused much consternation, Mr Day offered them to buy the house—or move out….Grandad bought the property an unusual step then for ordinary working folk…it passed to my own parents who moved out in 1986.
Mr. Day and his family lived in Lansdown Road I believe.
Jean Allen, nee White.
Sadly, this plaque went missing (presumed stolen) from the former Even Swindon School buildings sometime between mid November and early December 2013, immediately prior to its planned relocation to the new school in Pasture Close.
Can anyone help trace its current whereabouts, please?
Please pass any information to Swindon Police HQ quoting Crime Number 541400 09237.
Thank you so much
Hi Jean,
Well, Henry spent his working life not far away actually, in Ashford Road. He then spent his retirement in Croft Road, which is where he eventually passed away.
I’m not aware that he actually built any properties, although his father-in-law Billy Thomas (not Charlie Thomas as I erroneously mention above) was a scion of the Thomas family who certainly did.
Perhaps they inherited it and then decided to liquidate the asset? I haven’t come across anything relating to a dwelling in Thomas Street in the papers but it certainly sounds likely from your account.
With best wishes,
Noel