Sunny (but cold) Stamford

I've been on a little outing to Stamford, which is just over 20 miles away from home today, with our friendly coach company. I should have been going with a friend but she was in pain from a shoulder problem this morning so decided not to go.

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As it turned out to be a lovely sunny morning I thought I would have a wander round the areas away from the centre before heading for the shops.

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This lovely view is from an area called "The Meadows" towards the town. Not in the photograph because the light was wrong are the expansive meadows which give the area its name.

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This is one of many lovely old streets in this beautiful town where many buildings are built in sandstone. I saw several examples of the bow fronted building too.

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This is the very elegant Rutland Terrace on the western outskirts of the town and the photograph below shows a very stylish column with The Bastion tower in the background which is the best surviving fragment of the 13th century defensive walls.

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I was struck by the detailed and beautiful carvings in the pillar at the end of Rutland Terrace.

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A closer view of The Bastion tower.

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This building is called Hopkins Hospital and was built as an Almshouse for poor married couples in the 1770's. The gargoyle and the small window fragment above it are thought to have come from the Austin Priory which formerly stood opposite. You may be able to see the Coat of Arms for Stamford below the gargoyle.

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This street, heading back into the town, has featured in several television dramas (Middlemarch and Pride and Prejudice have both used Stamford as backdrops) and has some beautiful buildings.

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I know that many of you like to see doorways and this unusual entrance is at All Saints Church. It may date from before the 15th century.

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I had to chuckle at this notice on St Mary's Church. It's dated June 1819. I wonder if the church is now respoonsible for the upkeep of the road within this thirteen foot space? They may be wishing today that their ownership wasn't so obviously displayed! Funnily enough on the other corner of the building the church only lays claim to seven feet of ground!

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This was actually the main reason for the coach coming to Stamford, the weekly street market. This is Broad Street where bulls were run until the 18th century. The tower in the distance on the right hand side is part of Brownes' Hospital which are actually more mediaeval Almshouses for the elderly poor and which are still used as such today. It's a beautiful building which looks more like a church.

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On the way back to the bus station is this new sculpture. It is a modern version of the Eleanor Cross and has caused a lot of controversy within the town. The sculpture is covered in roses and is very striking. Pupils at the local secondary school have written haiku poems and the words have been cast in bronze discs which are set into the surrounding benches and on the ground.

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This and the two photos below show some of the details of this amazing sculpture.
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You should be able to click on the photos above and below and read the words.

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And finally, some rather more natural sculpture seen in Stamford today.

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I am now exhausted so I'm off for some dinner! Oh, before I forget, we have heating! Yay!