This site was produced by: LOCAL AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk

 

Stamford Town Council Official Guide
Introducing Stamford
Stamford Through Twelve Centuries
A Modern Town
Buildings and Features of Note
Burghley House
Rutland Water
Leisure
General Information
Our Advertisers

 

 


Stamford Town Council
Contact Information


Town Clerk
Stamford Town Council
Town Hall
St Mary's Hill
Stamford
Lincolnshire
PE9 2DR


Tel Enquiries:01780 753808

Email: Stamford Council
www.stamfordtowncouncil.co.uk

Introducing Stamford

Long considered to be one of England’s most beautiful smaller towns, Stamford, with well over a thousand years of history behind it, occupies a hilly site astride the River Welland. It is in the extreme south west corner of Lincolnshire immediately adjacent to the counties of Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Always a place of importance in the country’s history, the market-town of Stamford evolved around a natural stopping point at a ford where the Great North Road crosses the River Welland. For centuries that famous thoroughfare brought trade and prosperity and provided convenient access to the rest of the country ensuring a commercial importance that only declined with the advent of the railways.

The vernacular buildings, mostly built of the local warm-tinted Jurassic limestone that is so characteristic of this corner of the country, give Stamford a distinguished Georgian appearance that has few equals.

The town’s commercial importance dates back to the Saxons and, by the 10th century, Stamford was a borough whose rights were later confirmed by successive Royal Charters in 1462, 1481 and 1663. Indeed, Stamford has very much the feeling of a small county town and it has probably more in common with the adjacent county of Rutland to the west than with Lincolnshire and Lincoln, its county town, situated some distance to the north-east.

Stamford’s opportune situation and distance from London made it a convenient stopover point for transiting kings and queens. King Edward I was a frequent visitor, as were King View of St Marys HillHenry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots who were all entertained here. King Charles I was said to have spent his last night of freedom here at the end of the Civil War. The town’s long and interesting history is clearly reflected in Stamford’s many beautiful churches, its historic commercial and domestic architecture, its ancient hostelries with its fine squares and quaint alleyways that draw today’s tourists from all over the world. Local industries provide added prosperity and the town’s shops and weekly markets serve a wide surrounding area. The town also has a fine, recently refurbished theatre, a museum, good sports facilities including a leisure centre and indoor swimming pool, a number of well-appointed hotels and many good pubs often serving an admirable range of local ales as well familiar national brands. Stamford, in short, is an ideal place to visit whether for a day, a weekend or longer. With its choice of fine, older town houses and excellent modern housing estates and picturesque outlying villages, it is also makes an ideal place in which to live, work and play.



Next Page

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. Photographs supplied by Don Lambert Photography,