Nationwide Archives.

The Nationwide Building Society has its UK headquarters in Swindon. Today a group from the village history society were able to have a tour of their archives.

Oh my gosh- it was absolutely fascinating. From learning all about the first mortgage (and seeing the details in the original ledger) to their biggest item (an internet fridge from the 1990s with a touchscreen that linked your bank card to M&S so that you could buy groceries).

First mortgage: http://www.house-historian.co.uk/london/morrison-street/