In July the Society working in collaboration with Malcolm Sargent Primary School launched the first Children's Town Trail. Stamford primary school children of all ages have chosen, researched, illustrated and written about their 15 favourite places in Stamford. The Trail is a coloured A3 fold-out leaflet and will be a resource for primary schools to use as part of their local studies.
You can see the places that the children have chosen and download copies of the Trail from the Society’s website. Alternatively, copies are available in the Library and the TIC.
Heritage Open Days
This year, the annual Heritage Open Days take place on 14 and 15 September. The Civic Society is coordinating a programme of events around the theme of ‘Material Matters’ on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September. Events will include tours of Stamford Churches, exploring their history, architecture and building materials, a display and demonstration of Collyweston slating and tours of the town looking at different stone and its use in the buildings. Details of the programme and booking arrangements are available on our website; if you wish to look further afield, see the Heritage Lincolnshire leaflets, or their website.
Facebook and Twitter
The Society is now live on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us on Twitter at @stamfordcivic; we will tweet reminders about events and information about local issues.
On Facebook, we will post information about planning applications sent by SKDC for our comments. Please post your thoughts about any of these you feel strongly about. Also, do remember your comments will be public!
For now you can find the Society on Facebook by searching but when we have 50 “likes” we will have our own Facebook address, so please if you use Facebook, “like” us now.
QR codes – we need your help!
QR or Quick Response Codes are a type of two-dimensional barcode that can be read using smartphones that link directly to websites. They appear regularly on advertisements; for example estate agents use them in newspaper adverts; you see a property that interests you, scan the QR code, and you can read the full details.
In Stamford, we are using them to provide information to residents and visitors alike on many of the buildings in the town. We are currently running a pilot scheme covering about 50 sites in the Conservation Area.
We need more people to help with providing historical and anecdotal information on various sites in Stamford as a matter of urgency.
The project has its own website, www.stamfordrheritage.org.uk that provides more details and in particular, how you can help. If you don’t have Internet access and would still like to help, please contact Dave Sones on 01780 482767 for more information.
Since the last newsletter…
Thursday 11 July – 6pm to 9pm: Open Gardens around St George’s Square and St Mary’s
Over 80 members spent a wonderful 3 hours visiting gardens in this area. We are delighted that the weather behaved itself! The evening ended with drinks and nibbles in The Gallery, Stamford Art Centre for members and the garden owners, to whom many thanks for letting us explore their gardens.
We have made a donation of £250 from the profits of this event to the Stamford Street Pastors.
Events programme
Thursday 5 September 2013 – 2pm: Visit to Milton Hall, near Peterborough.
Milton Hall dates from 1594, and is the historical home of the Fitzwilliam family. No more tickets are available.
Thursday, 3 October 2013 7.30pm: AGM at the Town Hall.
Our speaker this year is Nick Boles, our MP and the Minister responsible for planning. Details are in the AGM paperwork. This is a members only event.
Wednesday 6 November – 5.30pm to 7.30pm: Private tour of Peterborough Museum.
This evening visit starts at 5.30pm with a glass of wine, followed by our tour round the recently refurbished museum from 6pm to 7.30pm. The cost is £7 per person. Tickets are now available from the Secretary.
Wednesday 15th January 7.30pm: Dr Jocelyn Chatterton will talk on “Life in Qing Dynasty China – Emperors, Concubines and Eunuchs”. This will be at Browne’s Hospital; tickets will cost £3.50 as usual.
Thursday 13th February 7.30pm: We welcome back Gil Darby; this time she will be talking on “Josiah Wedgwood - “Vase Maker General to the Universe”. This will be at Browne’s Hospital; tickets will cost £3.50 as usual.
Thursday 20th March 7.30pm: Dave Gamston will talk on “Historic Pub Interiors: a Conservation Issue”. This will be at Browne’s Hospital; tickets will cost £3.50 as usual.
We also anticipate arranging another informal members’ meeting round the fire at Browne’s sometime in March or April.
April – date to be confirmed: Visit to Kings Lynn – organised by the Kings Lynn Civic Society.
May/June – date to be confirmed: Visit to Oakham castle – organized by the Friends of Rutland County Museum and Oakham Castle.
Contact Details
Our website at
www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk has up to date information on events and projects.
Please contact Melanie Sockett, our Secretary for tickets and general information, by phone to 01780 752972, in writing to 16 Phillips Court, Stamford, PE9 2EE or by email to info@stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk.
We look forward to seeing you at our events during 2013 and 2014.
Gwyneth Gibbs
Chairman