January 2013 Newsletter
We have lots of exciting news to bring you about our activities and events planned for 2013.
The Sundial Project
We announced at our Annual General Meeting that the Society, jointly with All Saints’ Church, has received fantastic awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the local Harry Skells Trust, enabling us to take forward heritage projects commemorating the Society’s 50th anniversary and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
You might have already noticed that the faded and damaged early 18th century sundial on All Saints’ Church has been removed. This would once have been a vital timepiece for the life of the town. The Harry Skells Trust has awarded the sum of £5,000 towards the fabrication and installation of a new sundial to overlook Red Lion Square, replacing the old one. The intention is to mark it with the date MMXII and a declination curve, showing the sun’s path for the 6th February, the day of the Queen’s accession. We hope to have this in place by May.
The substantial HLF grant of £42,000 enables us, using the sundial as a focus, to give young people more opportunities to identify elements of their heritage and to participate in its interpretation. It will help to develop practical skills relating to Stamford’s built environment such as multi-media methods of communication, physical fabrication and conservation. We are working with New College, Stamford School and St Gilbert’s Primary School on a range of interactive projects.
In addition, the HLF grant will allow All Saints’ Church to conserve the old sundial. It has been carefully taken down, is being conserved in a specialist workshop and will be preserved for future generations within the church. You can find out more about these projects on the Society’s website.
Events programme
Our winter lecture programme is running at Stamford Arts Centre for its second year. Tickets (£5.00, or £4.50 for concessions) are available from the Arts Centre:
Wednesday 30 January, 7.30pm: The Watchers - A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I
Stephen Alford returns to talk about his new book exploring the murky world of espionage at the Elizabethan court, focussing on the men prepared to destroy or defend their queen.
Wednesday 27 February, 7.30pm: Sundials and the history of reckoning time
This talk will describe how sundials work and explain how different designs have been used to indicate different kinds of time. Speaker Dr Frank King is the chairman of the British Sundial Society.
Wednesday 6 March, 7.30pm at Browne’s Hospital: Members’ meeting
We want to give members a more informal occasion to hear about the work and plans of the Society than is possible at the Annual General Meeting. We also would like to get your feedback on issues that you think are important for the Society to address. Do join us for a glass of wine and discussion. There is no charge and no tickets, but we would be grateful if you let the Secretary know if you intend to come along by phone 01780 752972, in writing to 16 Phillips Court, Stamford, PE9 2EE or by email to info@stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk).
Thursday 11 April 2.00pm to 4.00pm: A tour and talk at Tolethorpe Hall.
This is the perfect time of year to visit Tolethorpe; everything is ready for the new season, there are lambs in the fields and the blossom is out. The cost will be £5 per head, to include tea/coffee and biscuits. Tickets are available from The Secretary, address above.
Saturday 11 May, 10.30am – 12.00pm: Coffee morning at St Leonard’s Priory
The Society looks after the site of St Leonard’s Priory and has improved it over the years by installing an information board and planting many spring bulbs and a Mulberry tree. Join us for coffee and see how the grounds are looking – guests are welcome, and there is no need to book.
We will let you have more information nearer the time of other events planned, which include:
Tour of the private apartments of Burghley House – this is likely to take place on Tuesday 18 June. There will be only 25 places for this event and we will carry out a draw to allocate tickets.
Open Gardens around St George’s Square and St Mary’s – planned for the evening of Thursday 11 July. This event will be open to members only, and the evening will finish with drinks at the Arts Centre.
Later in the year we are planning visits to Milton Hall, near Peterborough. Milton Hall dates from 1594, and is the historical home of the Fitzwilliam family. We are also arranging a private visit to the refurbished Peterborough Museum.
State of the town
Many people are concerned about dangerous potholes appearing in local roads. If you notice any problems with the highways do report it first to Lincolnshire Highways – there is an easy-to-use form on LCC’s website, or you can phone Lincolnshire Highways West tel: 01522 782070.
If there is a problem with paving then please contact Peter Stevens, 17 Barn Hill, Stamford PE9 2AE, peterstevens.1@btinternet.com, who maintains a prioritized log of problems which are passed on to Lincolnshire Highways for action.
Heritage at Risk
Heritage Lincolnshire is running an innovative approach to managing heritage at risk by training and supporting a network of volunteer 'heritage stewards' to complete surveys on Lincolnshire's heritage assets including historic buildings, places of worship, parks and gardens, conservation areas and archaeological sites. The Senior Project Manager gave a talk to the Society’s Committee on the scope of the work, and Volunteer, Tom Gould, who is carrying out the survey of Stamford’s heritage assets - which involves a visual external inspection from the highway - spoke about his findings. Generally Stamford’s historic buildings have been constructed to a high standard and are in a reasonable state of repair.
We look forward to seeing you at our events in 2013 and you can check our website for more information www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk.
Gwyneth Gibbs
Chairman
Registered Charity No. 242571 email info@stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk
We have lots of exciting news to bring you about our activities and events planned for 2013.
The Sundial Project
We announced at our Annual General Meeting that the Society, jointly with All Saints’ Church, has received fantastic awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the local Harry Skells Trust, enabling us to take forward heritage projects commemorating the Society’s 50th anniversary and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
You might have already noticed that the faded and damaged early 18th century sundial on All Saints’ Church has been removed. This would once have been a vital timepiece for the life of the town. The Harry Skells Trust has awarded the sum of £5,000 towards the fabrication and installation of a new sundial to overlook Red Lion Square, replacing the old one. The intention is to mark it with the date MMXII and a declination curve, showing the sun’s path for the 6th February, the day of the Queen’s accession. We hope to have this in place by May.
The substantial HLF grant of £42,000 enables us, using the sundial as a focus, to give young people more opportunities to identify elements of their heritage and to participate in its interpretation. It will help to develop practical skills relating to Stamford’s built environment such as multi-media methods of communication, physical fabrication and conservation. We are working with New College, Stamford School and St Gilbert’s Primary School on a range of interactive projects.
In addition, the HLF grant will allow All Saints’ Church to conserve the old sundial. It has been carefully taken down, is being conserved in a specialist workshop and will be preserved for future generations within the church. You can find out more about these projects on the Society’s website.
Events programme
Our winter lecture programme is running at Stamford Arts Centre for its second year. Tickets (£5.00, or £4.50 for concessions) are available from the Arts Centre:
Wednesday 30 January, 7.30pm: The Watchers - A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I
Stephen Alford returns to talk about his new book exploring the murky world of espionage at the Elizabethan court, focussing on the men prepared to destroy or defend their queen.
Wednesday 27 February, 7.30pm: Sundials and the history of reckoning time
This talk will describe how sundials work and explain how different designs have been used to indicate different kinds of time. Speaker Dr Frank King is the chairman of the British Sundial Society.
Wednesday 6 March, 7.30pm at Browne’s Hospital: Members’ meeting
We want to give members a more informal occasion to hear about the work and plans of the Society than is possible at the Annual General Meeting. We also would like to get your feedback on issues that you think are important for the Society to address. Do join us for a glass of wine and discussion. There is no charge and no tickets, but we would be grateful if you let the Secretary know if you intend to come along by phone 01780 752972, in writing to 16 Phillips Court, Stamford, PE9 2EE or by email to info@stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk).
Thursday 11 April 2.00pm to 4.00pm: A tour and talk at Tolethorpe Hall.
This is the perfect time of year to visit Tolethorpe; everything is ready for the new season, there are lambs in the fields and the blossom is out. The cost will be £5 per head, to include tea/coffee and biscuits. Tickets are available from The Secretary, address above.
Saturday 11 May, 10.30am – 12.00pm: Coffee morning at St Leonard’s Priory
The Society looks after the site of St Leonard’s Priory and has improved it over the years by installing an information board and planting many spring bulbs and a Mulberry tree. Join us for coffee and see how the grounds are looking – guests are welcome, and there is no need to book.
We will let you have more information nearer the time of other events planned, which include:
Tour of the private apartments of Burghley House – this is likely to take place on Tuesday 18 June. There will be only 25 places for this event and we will carry out a draw to allocate tickets.
Open Gardens around St George’s Square and St Mary’s – planned for the evening of Thursday 11 July. This event will be open to members only, and the evening will finish with drinks at the Arts Centre.
Later in the year we are planning visits to Milton Hall, near Peterborough. Milton Hall dates from 1594, and is the historical home of the Fitzwilliam family. We are also arranging a private visit to the refurbished Peterborough Museum.
State of the town
Many people are concerned about dangerous potholes appearing in local roads. If you notice any problems with the highways do report it first to Lincolnshire Highways – there is an easy-to-use form on LCC’s website, or you can phone Lincolnshire Highways West tel: 01522 782070.
If there is a problem with paving then please contact Peter Stevens, 17 Barn Hill, Stamford PE9 2AE, peterstevens.1@btinternet.com, who maintains a prioritized log of problems which are passed on to Lincolnshire Highways for action.
Heritage at Risk
Heritage Lincolnshire is running an innovative approach to managing heritage at risk by training and supporting a network of volunteer 'heritage stewards' to complete surveys on Lincolnshire's heritage assets including historic buildings, places of worship, parks and gardens, conservation areas and archaeological sites. The Senior Project Manager gave a talk to the Society’s Committee on the scope of the work, and Volunteer, Tom Gould, who is carrying out the survey of Stamford’s heritage assets - which involves a visual external inspection from the highway - spoke about his findings. Generally Stamford’s historic buildings have been constructed to a high standard and are in a reasonable state of repair.
We look forward to seeing you at our events in 2013 and you can check our website for more information www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk.
Gwyneth Gibbs
Chairman
Registered Charity No. 242571 email info@stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk
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