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We Were Always Here:
Wiltshire’s Hidden LGBTQIA+ Social History
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, We Were Always Here is a year-long
community history project.
With the support of our partners – Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham, Swindon Local Studies Library, and you – we’ll discover the stories of how our community lived.
Add your stories as part of this groundbreaking project to discover and share the complete story of how ordinary queer Wiltshire folk lived and loved, suffered and triumphed against social attitudes?
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Use our form to tell your tales, and upload images online
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Get in touch at history@swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk - email us information or we’ll work out a time for a chat
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Meet us at an upcoming event - we’ll listen to your stories. All historical leads are interesting. Bring any photos, posters, flyers you have to show us.
Visit us at an upcoming event
Come and find out more or share your stories at one of our upcoming events:
6 Jun 2026
Calne Pride
1300-1500
Pocket Park, The Pippin
Find us at
Calne Pride March
13 Jun 2026
Pride in Chippenham
1300-1500 Talk @ Yelde Hall
1000-1600 Deck Chairs @ Island Park
More Details
15 Aug 2026
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride
1100-2000, GWR Park
Visit us in the Community zone to share your stories
More Details
We Were Always Here: Project Overview
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. ‘We Were Always Here’ is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will discover the stories of how ordinary queer Wiltshire folk lived and loved, suffered and triumphed against social attitudes.
We Were Always Here focuses on two centuries of social history from the beginning of the 19th century, when strict laws against any kind of homosexual behaviour were introduced, to 2014, when equal rights were achieved with the passing of the same sex marriage act.
The information, stories and images we uncover will tell Wiltshire’s hidden LGBTQIA+ history through the We Were Always Here exhibition, illustrated history book and online history pages (on this website) so that we will always be seen.
Email history@swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk for further information