FROM today you can find out about the history of Lydiard Park at a permanent exhibition opened to mark the 60th anniversary of its rescue from potential demolition.

The Lydiard Park Estate was dilapidated when Swindon Corporation bought it for £4,500 in December 1943.

Rarely seen photographs of the house taken in 1947 and early Advertiser coverage are among the items on display.

The story is also told of Swindon Corporation's town clerk David Murray John, who led the wartime purchase and lobbied the Government for a grant for Lydiard House. It was one of the first properties in the country to receive a grant from the Historic Buildings Council for England towards its restoration costs.

The pioneering restoration made sure Lydiard Park informed policy on historic buildings in this country.

Sarah Finch-Crisp , keeper of Lydiard House and project officer of Lydiard Park, said: "David Murray John worked tirelessly to ensure that the Grade 1 listed house was fully restored and it was always his intention that the 18th century landscape which surrounded it would also be returned to its former glory for the benefit of Swindon people.

"This vision is being realised today."

The Lydiard Park Project won £433,000 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund in December and work has already started to restore the 1740s parkland. The council will apply for £3m lottery cash next year.

Volunteers have cleared away scrub and dead wood from the castellated dam wall around the lake and a boat house is now visible again. The clearance has made way for archaeologists to start work on the restoration plan.

The lottery funding together with £45,000 from Swindon Council and £70,000 from RWE Innogy has allowed the council to appoint Nicholas Pearson Associates to undertake the restoration.

The exhibition in Lydiard Park's Visitor Centre is open from 10am to 5pm daily. Call 01793 770401 for more information.

See Monday's Advertiser for a feature about the Lydiard Park Project and how you can become involved