WE revealed a new and sorry chapter in the history of the Swindon’s Baptist Tabernacle in July of 1979 – a year or more after the historic structure was demolished.

The 300 tons of stone which once made up the frontage of the Regent Circus building are currently stacked somewhere on the old Wroughton airfield.

Had one man had his way, they would now be standing proudly as part of a magnificent neo-classical home in the Wiltshire countryside.

We wrote 37 years ago: “Malmesbury artist Stanley Frost, who bought the front of the Baptist Tabernacle to rebuild it as the entrance to a house he plans between Brokenborough and Long Newnton, has now moved all the stone he wants to his site at Bell Farm.

“But the Bell Farm site, on the road from Malmesbury to Tetbury, is a stumbling block far bigger than the six three-ton blocks supporting the massive columns which made the church so impressive.

“Mr Frost was in such a hurry to preserve the classic portico and façade before it was irretrievably lost, that he bought it and the site without the benefit of planning permission.

“Wiltshire County Council have refused his application to build. They say the existing use should remain undisturbed…isolated development detrimental to the character of the area…dangerous access.

“And they’ve now served him with an enforcement order to clear the site…or else. That could land him with a £400 fine and £50 a day until the stone is moved.”

Mr Frost’s son and fellow artist, Alan, provided the drawing of the planned building which we printed alongside the story.

There would be further attempts to turn the plans into reality over the following years.

The stones changed hands more than once, eventually being bought by Swindon Borough Council.

Whether they’ll ever be reassembled into the beautiful frontage which was part of the town centre landscape for so many years remains to be seen.