Since the last Newsletter
On 12 April, Simon Harris of Harris McCormack spoke on “An Architect’s Thoughts on Building in Stamford in the 21st Century”. Simon aimed to protect and enhance whole areas and individual buildings. Buildings, particularly those that are listed, needed to be seen in the context of their surroundings; details were all-important. Examples of his Stamford work included eight new houses in Marshall’s Yard, a striking modern eco-house on Priory Road and a modern extension in Water Street.
Stamford Civic Society seeks a new Chairman
Forthcoming events
Saturday, 23 June, 6pm-8pm
Annual summer drinks party for members and their guests, at St. Leonard’s Priory. No charge.
Tuesday, 12 June (no charge, booking essential, preferably by email, to the Treasurer)
Full day visit to Cambridge. We will be met near the ‘Backs’ at 10am by a Blue Badge guide, who will take us on a walk round the sites for 1½-2 hours. After the tour, there will be plenty of time to have lunch and explore individually. We hope that the tour will include King’s College Chapel (£9 entry fee). Other colleges’ opening times vary daily, often at short notice; guided group visits are restricted. Instead, our guide will have information on which colleges are open for you to visit independently in the afternoon. Transport to Cambridge is by car or train. Full details will be provided when you book and on the website’s ‘Coming events’ page. Please also let us know if you need or can offer a lift, and Martin will do his best at matchmaking! Numbers are limited, so please book as soon as possible.
Thursday, 11 October, 7.30pm, Town Hall
The Society’s Annual General Meeting. Members only, no charge.
Autumn 2018
We are also planning a talk by the Chairman on Dr Fennell’s role in making Stamford the first Conservation Area.
Society news
Full details are now available on this website.
SKDC HERITAGE PROJECT
SKDC is setting up a heritage website for South Kesteven, including an image library where people can contribute both current photographs of favourite sites and buildings, and historic photos of the district. In the short term, they are seeking historic photos to seed the site and encourage more people to participate. If you have photos that you would be willing to allow SKDC to use on the site for publicity purposes, please contact Claire Saunders, Heritage Regeneration Officer, InvestSK on 01476 406318 (direct line) or via email at claire.saunders@investsk.co.uk.
SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS AND NOTE CARDS
The Society’s attractive note cards have images of Stamford by local artist Karen Neale. They are blank inside for use on all occasions. Packs of six cards with envelopes, in three designs, are £5.00. The Stones of Stamford Revisited by Rachel Morley is a “must” for any owner of a stone house (£5.00). The Magic Lantern Slides of Henry Traylen—nearly 100 old photographs of Stamford (£10.00). To buy any of these, please contact the Treasurer.
AND FINALLY…
Andrew Beeson, one of our Committee Members, and his wife Jo are doing the gruelling 24-mile Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the Peterborough City Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The group of 31, organised by the Little Lane Nursery, hopes to complete the walk in under 12 hours. They hope to raise £1,000. Donations can be made at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/little-lane-three-peaks.
Urban Group
The Society continues to press LCC to restore and then maintain the roadway with the current paving rather than tarmac. The Society's case will soon be on the website.
HISTORIC SITES
Stamford College is endeavouring to produce a phone app to enable residents and visitors to obtain historic site information quickly and easily on their smartphones. Your help is needed. Some 25 sites have already been processed, but over 30 descriptions are still outstanding: if you have not already received the list, please ask the Secretary for details. Those completed are between 200 and 400 words each. As well as personal knowledge, useful sources are the Royal Commission book The Town of Stamford, Martin Smith’s Stamford Then and Now and Pevsner's Lincolnshire. If you can contribute to this excellent project, please let the Secretary know which site(s) you would like to tackle—and await his go-ahead before starting work, to avoid duplication!