Press Release - 28 July 2017
(also available for download as a PDF file (1.7 MB)
In 1967 Stamford became the country’s first Conservation Area. Why and how did this happen and why was it so important then?
As part of the Stamford 50 local celebrations Stamford Civic Society is holding an exhibition which aims to answer these questions and looks at why conservation is still important today.
The exhibition will be held at Stamford Arts Centre, 20 – 28 September.
The exhibition will illustrate Stamford’s wonderful architectural heritage and highlight the role of national and local people in tackling the threats to historic environments, prevalent in the 1960s, of rapid development and heavy traffic. Memories of local people of the town before the Conservation Area came into being will be displayed.
Stamford needs to pay thanks to Lord Duncan Sandys, Chairman of Civic Trust and MP, who steered a Private Members’ Bill through Parliament. The Bill became law when the Civic Amenities Act was granted Royal Assent on 27 July 1967 and introduced the concept of Conservation Areas.
Our thanks are also due to local planning officer Dr Kenneth Fennell and his team who had the foresight to carry out preliminary work necessary to demonstrate how Stamford’s historic core could be saved.
Accompanying the exhibition there will be screenings of short films made by young people from schools in and around Stamford. Heritage Lincolnshire has invited young people to produce films to help share what matters to them about their historic town as part of Stamford Schools Heritage Film Festival.
Archive photos from Historic England’s collections showing representative aspects of Stamford’s Conservation Area will be on display and we will be asking people to take part in a competition related to the places illustrated.
The exhibition has been generously supported by Colemans, The George of Stamford, Historic England and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
Notes for Editors:
Stamford Civic Society: www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk.
Stamford Civic Society was formed by a small group in the early 1960s to defend the town's heritage and actively fight for its preservation and improvement. Since then, it has grown to a membership of over 200 people. In addition to our concerns about the town's heritage and conservation, we organise visits to local places of interest and hold talks on a variety of subjects, run projects to enhance the town, work with local schools to encourage the children to take an interest in their town, run an awards scheme and when necessary, campaign on issues affecting Stamford.
For more information please contact Carol Meads at [email protected] or call 0775 1966012.
Stamford Schools Heritage Film Festival:
Heritage Lincolnshire has invited young people to produce films to help share what matters to them about their historic town. Schools in and around Stamford will work with experts from Heritage Lincolnshire and Stamford Civic Society to explore their local neighbourhood and its history. Teachers and pupils will then receive free training from a professional film maker to help them script, create, and edit their own 5-minute short film. The project is being organised by Heritage Lincolnshire in partnership with Stamford Civic Society and Stamford Arts Centre, with funding from Historic England’s Heritage Schools Programme.
For more information please contact Dr Ian Marshman, Education & Engagement Officer, [email protected] or call 01529 461499.
The Historic England Archive: https://historicengland.org.uk/photos
Stamford Arts Centre is at 27 St Mary's Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2DL.
https://www.stamfordartscentre.com/
Exhibition sponsors:
Colemans: https://www.colemans-online.co.uk/colemans-of-stamford.html
The George of Stamford: http://www.georgehotelofstamford.com/
Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/
Institute of Historic Building Conservation: http://www.ihbc.org.uk/
As part of the Stamford 50 local celebrations Stamford Civic Society is holding an exhibition which aims to answer these questions and looks at why conservation is still important today.
The exhibition will be held at Stamford Arts Centre, 20 – 28 September.
The exhibition will illustrate Stamford’s wonderful architectural heritage and highlight the role of national and local people in tackling the threats to historic environments, prevalent in the 1960s, of rapid development and heavy traffic. Memories of local people of the town before the Conservation Area came into being will be displayed.
Stamford needs to pay thanks to Lord Duncan Sandys, Chairman of Civic Trust and MP, who steered a Private Members’ Bill through Parliament. The Bill became law when the Civic Amenities Act was granted Royal Assent on 27 July 1967 and introduced the concept of Conservation Areas.
Our thanks are also due to local planning officer Dr Kenneth Fennell and his team who had the foresight to carry out preliminary work necessary to demonstrate how Stamford’s historic core could be saved.
Accompanying the exhibition there will be screenings of short films made by young people from schools in and around Stamford. Heritage Lincolnshire has invited young people to produce films to help share what matters to them about their historic town as part of Stamford Schools Heritage Film Festival.
Archive photos from Historic England’s collections showing representative aspects of Stamford’s Conservation Area will be on display and we will be asking people to take part in a competition related to the places illustrated.
The exhibition has been generously supported by Colemans, The George of Stamford, Historic England and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
Notes for Editors:
Stamford Civic Society: www.stamfordcivicsociety.org.uk.
Stamford Civic Society was formed by a small group in the early 1960s to defend the town's heritage and actively fight for its preservation and improvement. Since then, it has grown to a membership of over 200 people. In addition to our concerns about the town's heritage and conservation, we organise visits to local places of interest and hold talks on a variety of subjects, run projects to enhance the town, work with local schools to encourage the children to take an interest in their town, run an awards scheme and when necessary, campaign on issues affecting Stamford.
For more information please contact Carol Meads at [email protected] or call 0775 1966012.
Stamford Schools Heritage Film Festival:
Heritage Lincolnshire has invited young people to produce films to help share what matters to them about their historic town. Schools in and around Stamford will work with experts from Heritage Lincolnshire and Stamford Civic Society to explore their local neighbourhood and its history. Teachers and pupils will then receive free training from a professional film maker to help them script, create, and edit their own 5-minute short film. The project is being organised by Heritage Lincolnshire in partnership with Stamford Civic Society and Stamford Arts Centre, with funding from Historic England’s Heritage Schools Programme.
For more information please contact Dr Ian Marshman, Education & Engagement Officer, [email protected] or call 01529 461499.
The Historic England Archive: https://historicengland.org.uk/photos
Stamford Arts Centre is at 27 St Mary's Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2DL.
https://www.stamfordartscentre.com/
Exhibition sponsors:
Colemans: https://www.colemans-online.co.uk/colemans-of-stamford.html
The George of Stamford: http://www.georgehotelofstamford.com/
Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/
Institute of Historic Building Conservation: http://www.ihbc.org.uk/