ABOUT STAMFORD
The town of Stamford in Lincolnshire originally grew as a Danish settlement, which by the middle ages had become famous for its production of wool and cloth. Stamford was originally a walled town but only a small percentage of these walls still remain today.
Stamford lies on the main north-south route from London, several parliaments were held here in the middle ages. The town had to manage with Britains north-south traffic through its narrow streets untill 1960 when the bypass was built.
One of Stamfords most visited attractions is Burghley House,an Elizabethan mansion built by the first minister of Elizabeth 1, Sir William Cecil, later to become Lord Burghley. Work on the construction of the house started in 1555 and lasted 32 years, the stone came from a quarry in northamptonshire.
Stamford also boasts the oldest newspaper in Britain, The Stamford Mercury, established in 1695! it was originally a national newspaper as the A1 was a major route along which many travellers passed.
Many Kings and Queens have stayed in the town, king Edward I visited frequently on his way to fight the scots. Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots were each entertained in Stamford. Legend has it that Charles I spent his last night of freedom here at the end of the civil war in a house in the Barn Hill area of town.
In 1215 the barons gathered in Stamford before going to present the Magna Carta to King John at Runnymede.
Stamford also boasted of having Englands heaviest man, Daniel Lambert. When he died (age 39) he weighed 53 stone! and his waist was 9feet 4 inches!. He died in the Waggon and Horses Inn on a visit to Stamford races. Part of the Inn had to be demolished to get the coffin out.
Another fact you probabley didnt know was that in years gone by, November marked the towns ancient custom of "bull running" This involved tormenting and chasing a bull through the streets before it was driven off the town bridge into the river, then killed for the evening feast, this gave common people a chance to enjoy themselves. The custom was banned due to the cost of policing the runs.
Stamford lies on the main north-south route from London, several parliaments were held here in the middle ages. The town had to manage with Britains north-south traffic through its narrow streets untill 1960 when the bypass was built.
One of Stamfords most visited attractions is Burghley House,an Elizabethan mansion built by the first minister of Elizabeth 1, Sir William Cecil, later to become Lord Burghley. Work on the construction of the house started in 1555 and lasted 32 years, the stone came from a quarry in northamptonshire.
Stamford also boasts the oldest newspaper in Britain, The Stamford Mercury, established in 1695! it was originally a national newspaper as the A1 was a major route along which many travellers passed.
Many Kings and Queens have stayed in the town, king Edward I visited frequently on his way to fight the scots. Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots were each entertained in Stamford. Legend has it that Charles I spent his last night of freedom here at the end of the civil war in a house in the Barn Hill area of town.
In 1215 the barons gathered in Stamford before going to present the Magna Carta to King John at Runnymede.
Stamford also boasted of having Englands heaviest man, Daniel Lambert. When he died (age 39) he weighed 53 stone! and his waist was 9feet 4 inches!. He died in the Waggon and Horses Inn on a visit to Stamford races. Part of the Inn had to be demolished to get the coffin out.
Another fact you probabley didnt know was that in years gone by, November marked the towns ancient custom of "bull running" This involved tormenting and chasing a bull through the streets before it was driven off the town bridge into the river, then killed for the evening feast, this gave common people a chance to enjoy themselves. The custom was banned due to the cost of policing the runs.