Swindon’s STEAM Museum and Lydiard House Museum host an array of events suitable for all ages this Easter

The Swindon Borough Council-owned venues will feature family-friendly activities such as STEM activities, potion-making, new special exhibitions, ceramic workshops and free art sessions.

STEAM – Museum:

The museum of the Great Western Railway will see a second exhibition as part of 2022’s series and will open on Saturday the 9th of April. ‘The Diesel Decades’ reveals the story of how Britain’s railways moved from the use of steam engines and on to diesel-powered locomotives.

The exhibition looks at early diesel experiments held by many railway companies and how this affected the British Railways Modernisation Plan, which changed to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s, and the introduction of the InterCity 125 and beyond. The exhibition also looks at the impact of diesel on the locomotive drivers, passengers and at Swindon Railway Works.

‘The Diesel Decades’ exhibit also sees an interesting collection of images and objects from the STEAM collection, which will be displayed for the first time. A favourite of which will no doubt be an original livery drawing of Class 52 Western locomotive detailing an experimental colour – Golden Ochre.

Educational workshops will also be on offer at the STEAM museum and will be centred around the future of transport and will take place on Wednesday the 13th and Thursday the 14th of April. The workshops will give children the chance to design an electric circuit and then build bodywork for an electric vehicle which could be anything from a sleek speedster to a comfy cruiser. The sessions will last approximately 2 hours with a cost of £8.50 per child.

The museum will also see family art and craft sessions as Swindon Museum and Art Gallery’s Art on Tour team give children the chance at trying recycled sculpture, collage or even design their own train. The free sessions will be taking place on Wednesday the 20th of April and will last 45 minutes. The art sessions need to be booked ahead and are suited to children aged 3 and over.

The STEAM Museum will also be hosting a small number of other free activities with a choice of extra activities which can be paid for on the day. The activities do not include admission to STEAM Museum.

Museum admission and tickets for activities have to  be booked ahead and this can be done via the STEAM website: http://www.steam-museum.org.uk

Lydiard House Museum

The museum will be reopening its stunning State Rooms on Saturday the 9th of April and will also feature a brand new art trail called ‘Interventions’ and features a collection of artworks from Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. The joyful art trail brings a modern twist and a fresh visual context to the grand Palladian spaces of the Lydiard House Museum.

The museum will also see a visit from The Swindon Museum and Art Gallery team who will host free, drop-in outdoor art activities which will start from 10am and 4pm on Wednesday the 13th of April. The sessions will give people a chance to try Easter-themed crafts and nature art. The sessions are weather dependent and are suitable for all the family.

Lady Johanna St John of Lydiard House made poultices and potions from herbs and plants known for their healing properties during the 17th Century. On Wednesday the 20th of April families can have a go for themselves with a ‘Medical Lotions and Potions’ activity which will take place in the garden at the museum. The session will see children get the chance to dress up in a lab coat and make their own potion to take home. The sessions cost £2 per person, on top of the House admission with spaces available to pre-book by emailing: [email protected]

From Saturday the 9th of April, Lydiard House Museum will be open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm with the last admission being 3.30pm.

Tickets can be bought from the house on the day and cost £5 per adult and £2.75 per child with under 3’s going free. Family tickets are also available.