The 1922 Plaques
There are a number of on buildings and sites in Stamford. Most of these were erected in 1922 by a committee of the Tradesmen's Association. Four of the 1922 plaques were lost or stolen over the years, and in 2016-17 the Society replaced them with the new plaques pictured below. (Click the pictures of the plaques to see larger versions.) The Society has adopted a policy for supporting the provision of new plaques.
This list quotes the original wording and the replacement 2016 text where applicable. Although the Society does not believe them to be 100% historically accurate, they do offer an interesting view of the town, and an afternoon could be well spent finding them all!
The list starts to the west of the town, about a quarter of a mile upriver from the Town Bridge, and moves generally eastwards.
1. Third meadow - the supposed Roman ford
''One of the most important Roman roads to the north from London to Lincoln and York crossed here. In AD61 survivors of the Ninth Roman Legion fled this way pursued by Queen Boadicea. After the collapse of the bridge the lower crossing was preferred and Stamford grew around this in Saxon times.''
2. West Street - the Bastion.
''The west tower or Bastion. The last remaining defence towers to protect the town from invasion by way of St. Peter's Gate which stood nearby.''
3. St. Peter's Street - Hopkins' hospital
''Here stood St. Peter's Gate, dismantled in 1770. On the south side was built and endowed the same year Hopkins' Hospital by John Hopkins, the then mayor. The tower or bastion some thirty yards to the north, in West Street, is the only one now standing."
4. St. Peter's Street - No: 31
''This is the site of Sempringham Hall a school of the Gilbertines, founded in the thirteenth century"
5. St. Peter's Street - No: 3, Williamson's Callis
''Williamson's Callis. These tenements were adapted in 1762 by George Williamson, grocer of this town, to house six poor widows.''
6. St. Peter's Hill - on the wall surrounding the grassy knoll
''Site of St. Peter's Church, mentioned in Domesday Book. The Church was pulled down in 1560 on amalgamation of the parish with Al Saints'.''
This list quotes the original wording and the replacement 2016 text where applicable. Although the Society does not believe them to be 100% historically accurate, they do offer an interesting view of the town, and an afternoon could be well spent finding them all!
The list starts to the west of the town, about a quarter of a mile upriver from the Town Bridge, and moves generally eastwards.
1. Third meadow - the supposed Roman ford
''One of the most important Roman roads to the north from London to Lincoln and York crossed here. In AD61 survivors of the Ninth Roman Legion fled this way pursued by Queen Boadicea. After the collapse of the bridge the lower crossing was preferred and Stamford grew around this in Saxon times.''
2. West Street - the Bastion.
''The west tower or Bastion. The last remaining defence towers to protect the town from invasion by way of St. Peter's Gate which stood nearby.''
3. St. Peter's Street - Hopkins' hospital
''Here stood St. Peter's Gate, dismantled in 1770. On the south side was built and endowed the same year Hopkins' Hospital by John Hopkins, the then mayor. The tower or bastion some thirty yards to the north, in West Street, is the only one now standing."
4. St. Peter's Street - No: 31
''This is the site of Sempringham Hall a school of the Gilbertines, founded in the thirteenth century"
5. St. Peter's Street - No: 3, Williamson's Callis
''Williamson's Callis. These tenements were adapted in 1762 by George Williamson, grocer of this town, to house six poor widows.''
6. St. Peter's Hill - on the wall surrounding the grassy knoll
''Site of St. Peter's Church, mentioned in Domesday Book. The Church was pulled down in 1560 on amalgamation of the parish with Al Saints'.''
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7. Stamford Castle
2016 text: "Site of William the Conqueror's castle erected 1068. Ruinous by 1340, demolished by mid 16th century. The only visible standing remains incorporate part of the castle's 13th century great hall. Click on the pictures for larger versions |
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8. Red Lion Square
2016 text: "Here for several centuries the pillory stood. This form of public punishment was abolished in 1837. The building opposite with the roof lantern was probably a medieval guildhall." |
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9. Barn Hill - on the south side, on the gazebo of Barn Hill House
Original text: ''In the house on the site of No. 9, King Charles I slept for the last time as a free man (4th May 1646). Through the gateway of the house leading to the North he passed disguised as a servant. Two days afterwards he surrendered to the Scots' Army." 2016 text: ''William Stukeley, the noted 18th century antiquary lived in the house opposite, No 9, 1743-48. The structure above was part of the house forming a bridge that spanned the road. It housed Stukeley's study and library. Stukeley claimed that King Charles I spent the last night of freedom in this house, May 1646." |
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10. Broad Street - Browne's Hospital
''Hospital of William Browne, merchant, founded 1483.''
11. Broad Street - top of Ironmonger Street
''Here formerly stood the Market Cross to which some prisoners were brought from gaol on Market days and whipped round it. It is mentioned in 1550 and was taken down in 1696.''
12. St. Mary's Hill - No. 9 - St. Mary's Passage
''This Norman arch is believed to be one of the postern gates in the town walls.”
13. St. Mary's Hill - No. 4
''On this site formerly stood the Bridge Gate with the Town Hall over it. The gate was removed in 1777 and the Town Hall rebuilt in its present position at the cost of the Turnpike Road Trust''
14. Town Bridge
''Flood line 15th July 1880."
15. George Hotel, High Street St. Martin's
''In mediaeval times when the house of the holy sepulchre stood on this sites Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem were entertained here. In the garden at the rear, crusaders in their black robes with white cross walked and talked. The gnarled mulberry tree dates from the time of James I. The main block of the Hotel was erected in 1597 by Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer to Elizabeth I. At least three kings and many other famous travellers have stayed here."
16. High Street St. Martin's - No. 52
''Here lived Lady Frances Wingfield who, claiming relationship with Oliver Cromwell, persuaded him in 1643 not to level the town. Here too in 1712 or earlier the Stamford Mercury was first printed.''
17. St Mary's Street - No. 27, Stamford Theatre
''This building was erected in 1768 as the Stamford Theatre and was used for more than 100 years. Macready, Kemble, Edmund Kean, Sheridan Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean and other notables performed here.
18. Water Street - the Albert, or Paradise, Bridge (Plaque set into bridge at the time of rebuilding)
''The bridge was erected in the second mayoralty of John Paradise Esq., 1881, in the place of one totally destroyed by flood in July 1880.''
19. St. Leonard's Street - No. 20, the former Daniel Lambert Pub
''Near this spot was formerly St. George's gate, removed in 1806.''
20. St. Paul's Street, north side - Stamford School Wall
''Here are the remains of St. Paul's Church. It ceased to be used as a church in 1548 on the merging of the parish with St. George's and has since formed part of the Stamford School premises."
21. St. Paul's Street, south side - Brasenose Gateway
''Gateway of Brazenose Hall demolished in 1688. The present door and knocker were given by a fellow of Brasenose College Oxford to record the secession of students of Brasenose Hall Oxford to this place 1333 - 1335. The original knocker of which this is a replica, was here until 1890 and is now in Brasenose College Hall.'' (note different text to 1912 proposals)
22. St. Paul's Street - top of Brasenose Lane
''Here stood St. Paul's Gate, one of the seven principal gates of Stamford. The walls from this spot extended towards the south by Wharf Road to the bridge, and northwards by what is now known as East Street, North Street, and West Street, again to the river and castle. The gate was demolished in 1780.''
23. East Street - St. Paul's Street
''On this site formerly stood the Church of the Holy Trinity which was totally destroyed when Stamford was pillaged by the Lancastrian Army in 1461."
24. St. Paul's Street - top of Pinfold Lane
''Site of the Grey Friars Monastery (1220 - 1539). Here lies the remains of Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent, wife of Edward the Black Prince, and the mother of King Richard II. She was buried here in 1385."
25. Uffington Road/Ryhall Road - the Infirmary (Hospital) Gateway
''This gateway is the only remaining portion of the house of Whitefriars 1285 - 539. Richard II held a Council and lodged here in 1392. Queen Elizabeth was entertained here in 1565 by the Lord Treasurer Burghley.''
''Hospital of William Browne, merchant, founded 1483.''
11. Broad Street - top of Ironmonger Street
''Here formerly stood the Market Cross to which some prisoners were brought from gaol on Market days and whipped round it. It is mentioned in 1550 and was taken down in 1696.''
12. St. Mary's Hill - No. 9 - St. Mary's Passage
''This Norman arch is believed to be one of the postern gates in the town walls.”
13. St. Mary's Hill - No. 4
''On this site formerly stood the Bridge Gate with the Town Hall over it. The gate was removed in 1777 and the Town Hall rebuilt in its present position at the cost of the Turnpike Road Trust''
14. Town Bridge
''Flood line 15th July 1880."
15. George Hotel, High Street St. Martin's
''In mediaeval times when the house of the holy sepulchre stood on this sites Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem were entertained here. In the garden at the rear, crusaders in their black robes with white cross walked and talked. The gnarled mulberry tree dates from the time of James I. The main block of the Hotel was erected in 1597 by Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer to Elizabeth I. At least three kings and many other famous travellers have stayed here."
16. High Street St. Martin's - No. 52
''Here lived Lady Frances Wingfield who, claiming relationship with Oliver Cromwell, persuaded him in 1643 not to level the town. Here too in 1712 or earlier the Stamford Mercury was first printed.''
17. St Mary's Street - No. 27, Stamford Theatre
''This building was erected in 1768 as the Stamford Theatre and was used for more than 100 years. Macready, Kemble, Edmund Kean, Sheridan Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean and other notables performed here.
18. Water Street - the Albert, or Paradise, Bridge (Plaque set into bridge at the time of rebuilding)
''The bridge was erected in the second mayoralty of John Paradise Esq., 1881, in the place of one totally destroyed by flood in July 1880.''
19. St. Leonard's Street - No. 20, the former Daniel Lambert Pub
''Near this spot was formerly St. George's gate, removed in 1806.''
20. St. Paul's Street, north side - Stamford School Wall
''Here are the remains of St. Paul's Church. It ceased to be used as a church in 1548 on the merging of the parish with St. George's and has since formed part of the Stamford School premises."
21. St. Paul's Street, south side - Brasenose Gateway
''Gateway of Brazenose Hall demolished in 1688. The present door and knocker were given by a fellow of Brasenose College Oxford to record the secession of students of Brasenose Hall Oxford to this place 1333 - 1335. The original knocker of which this is a replica, was here until 1890 and is now in Brasenose College Hall.'' (note different text to 1912 proposals)
22. St. Paul's Street - top of Brasenose Lane
''Here stood St. Paul's Gate, one of the seven principal gates of Stamford. The walls from this spot extended towards the south by Wharf Road to the bridge, and northwards by what is now known as East Street, North Street, and West Street, again to the river and castle. The gate was demolished in 1780.''
23. East Street - St. Paul's Street
''On this site formerly stood the Church of the Holy Trinity which was totally destroyed when Stamford was pillaged by the Lancastrian Army in 1461."
24. St. Paul's Street - top of Pinfold Lane
''Site of the Grey Friars Monastery (1220 - 1539). Here lies the remains of Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent, wife of Edward the Black Prince, and the mother of King Richard II. She was buried here in 1385."
25. Uffington Road/Ryhall Road - the Infirmary (Hospital) Gateway
''This gateway is the only remaining portion of the house of Whitefriars 1285 - 539. Richard II held a Council and lodged here in 1392. Queen Elizabeth was entertained here in 1565 by the Lord Treasurer Burghley.''
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26. Priory Road - on the north wall of the Priory
Original text: ''St. Leonard's Priory was founded in the 7th century by Wilfred, tutor to the son of the Saxon King Oswy. The present pillars and arches were erected by William II about 1090. The west front was rebuilt in 1150." 2016 text: ''St. Leonard's Priory was founded about 1100 by the monks of Durham to administer their southern properties. Two eastern bays of the original nave are early 12th century, three western bays a little later. The fine west front collapsed in 1833 and was re-erected the same year." |
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Photos of the plaques: Paul Eastwood
Page updated in February 2023 to give the 1922 Plaques their own page.
Page updated in February 2023 to give the 1922 Plaques their own page.
