1838: Coate Reservoir

From the Swindon Advertiser, July 1838 - Reprinted on 9th June 1888

The following appears in a publication dated July 1838:

Frequently during the summer months of the last three or four years, select parties of the gentry of the town and neighbourhood of Swindon have resorted to the reservoir, a fine sheet of water about two miles distant from the town, and nearly seventy acres in extent.

It is generally allowed that some of the finest scenery that nature ever formed surrounds this spot and greets the eye, which way soever you turn.

It would be almost an impossibility to select a place where the words of the poet, when he says, "Fair nature spreads a rich and boundless store, To charm my sight" could be more clearly and beautifully verified, or a place better calculated to spend an afternoon in an entertainment of any kind.

Pleasure boats, the property of O C Codrington, Esq, of Wroughton, and other gentlemen in the neighbourhood, being kept on the lake, the powers of those skilled in rowing have been time after time put to the test, whilst waltzing and quadrilling parties form another part of the joyous scene, and grace the banks "where chestnut trees shed a twilight of gloom".

The first of these assemblies for the present season took place on Tuesday, the 10th instant, and was exceedingly well and respectably attended, and passed off with the greatest éclat.

A repast was spread in the booths erected for the purpose, and after the party had partaken of the delicacies which it contained, dancing and water excursions commenced and continued with great spirit till "darkness began to veil the sky", when the party returned, every one apparently highly delighted with the entertainment. The Swindon band, which may be proud of its superiority over every other in this part of the country, attended and played in a most excellent and tasty manner during the afternoon.