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Pictures of Stamford

in the county of Lincolnshire

Stamford, Lincolnshire - River Welland, from the bridge, 2005

About Stamford

Of the 17 churches, only 6 now remain in Stamford, which is without doubt, one of the finest medieval towns in the British Isles, if not in Europe.

The town was first recorded in the Domesday Book as a Market town but there is evidence that ancient Britons dwelt here in the days before the Romans built their road through the town. The Normans built a castle here and history tells us that it was from here that a great army was assembled to march on Runnymede in an attempt to force King John to agree to the Magna Carta. Stamford is alive with reminders of a long and illustrious history. In the Middle Ages, Stamford was an important wool centre and it is thought that many of the town's most ancient and beautiful buildings were paid for by the generousity of the rich wool merchants.

Stamford was also at the centre of religion, having several monastries, friaries, priories and hospitals run by religious orders. Burghley hospital and almshouses, were originally founded by benedictine monks from Peterborough in the 11th-century. The semicircular arch, buttress and part of the river front all date from this period. Lord Burghley had the property enlarged during the 16th-century when it was given for the care of the poor and aged people.

Much credit for the fine quality of the buildings in Stamford is perhaps due to the famous architects who lived in close proximity to the town during the 17th and 18th-centuries, these include, Inigo Jones, the Adam brothers and John Thorpe. Of the churches, the church of St. Martin's is probably best known for it's monuments commemorating Lord Burghley who died in 1598 and to the Earl of Exeter by Monnot in 1703. St. Martin's church and St.John's church are fine examples of English Perpendicular Architecture. A magnificent 13th-century spire crowns the church of St.Mary and All Saints is topped by a soaring 152ft spire and in the year 1449 the church of St. George was enlarged by Sir William Bruges, first Garter King of Arms. Stamford's churches are quite simply overwhelming and a constant source of fascination and amazement, they provide the town with a glorious historical treasure chest and stand in testimony to an age when religion mattered and the wealthy gave generously to the church.

Other notable architecture to be seen in the town can be found in the following places; All Saints Place shows good examples of 18th-century buildings and in Barn Hill there is a rich variety of Queen Anne, Georgian and Regency properties, while in Broad Street many of the houses are of 17th and 18th-century origins. The chapel to the medieval Browne's hospital has a fine carved screen and early stained glass windows.

In the year 1552, William Burghley, favourite adviser to the first Queen Elizabeth, inherited the manor of Stamford. In 1553 he began building Burghley House, a building which today is regarded as being the grandest surviving property of the Elizabethan period.

Stamford is at the heart of fine Lincolnshire countryside and worthy of note is the open air theatre pleasantly situated at nearby Little Casterton and Burghley Horse Trials continue to attract high calibre contestants from all over England. There is a museum in Stamford and the excellent shopping facilities together with quality hotels, inns and restaurants make this a lively and interesting place to visit at any time of year. The character of it's buildings lend a great charm to Stamford and you will long recall the magical atmosphere and sheer beauty of this lovely old town.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Stamford

Burghley House(1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction E)Pictures
Barnack Hills & Holes NNR(3.1 miles, 5.1 km, direction SE)Pictures
Castor Hanglands NNR(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction SE)Pictures
Egleton Nature Reserve(8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction W)Pictures
Rutland Water(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction W)Pictures
Ferry Meadows Country Park(9.2 miles, 14.7 km, direction SE)Pictures
Southwick Hall(9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction S)Pictures
Grimsthorpe Castle(9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction N)Pictures
Oakham Castle(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction W)Pictures
Deene Park(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction SW)Pictures
Kirby Hall(10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction SW)Pictures
Peterborough Cathedral(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction SE)Pictures
Barnwell Country Park(12.3 miles, 19.9 km, direction S)Pictures
Woolsthorpe Manor(12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction NW)Pictures
Eyebrook Reservoir(13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction SW)Pictures

All attractions in Stamford
All attractions in Lincolnshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Stamford

Duddington, in the county of Northamptonshire (4.4 miles, 7.0 km, direction SW)
This is a gem of a village that is all gracious houses and cottages of stone, roofed with stone slates, that are spaciously interspersed around enchanting country lanes backed by mile after mile of glorious rich pasture and meadowland.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Normanton, in the county of Rutland (6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction W)
Normanton lies in a landscape of rolling farmlands, broken only by rivers and patches of woodland. It is a tranquil place, with the waters offering scope for sailing and other water-sports, bird-watching, fishing, and cycling.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Edith Weston, in the county of Rutland (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction W)
The village lies on the southern shores of Rutland Water, one of Europe's largest man-made reservoirs, and England's premier fly fishing waters.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Barrowden, a Picturesque Village in the county of Rutland (6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction SW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Fotheringhay, in the county of Northamptonshire (8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction S)
The lantern tower of the Church of St. Mary and All Saints at Fotheringhay shines through the deepening shadows of the great trees that frame it, shadows matched in darkness by those less visible that haunt the village where the final tragedy of Mary, Queen of Scots was enacted.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Harringworth, in the county of Northamptonshire (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction SW)
Harringworth is a peaceful, serene village surrounded by unspoilt countryside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bisbrooke, a Picturesque Village in the county of Rutland (10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction SW)
Bisbrooke lies amidst a landscape of gentle hills dotted with rolling farmlands, rivers, reservoirs and woodland.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Deene, in the county of Northamptonshire (10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction SW)
Captivatingly beautiful in the quiet Northamptonshire countryside is the delightful village of Deene.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Oakham, in the county of Rutland (10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction W)
For centuries the countryside around Oakham has echoed to the sound of hunting horns, for the vales and rolling farmland surrounding this sedate market town, have been the stamping ground for the counties hunting fraternity.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Uppingham, in the county of Rutland (10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction SW)
Uppingham is a small town in what used to be called Rutland. It was just a tiny county, yet it encompassed some of the most beautiful countryside in England.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lyddington, in the county of Rutland (11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction SW)
The charming village of Lyddington is set along what was doubtless once an ancient track that carried horse-drawn traffic.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Peterborough, a Historic City in the county of Cambridgeshire (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SE)
The magic of Peterborough lies in the richness of its beautiful Cathedral. It is a glorious historical treasure house, it is unique and quite beyond compare.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Braunston, in the county of Rutland (12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, in the county of Lincolnshire (12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction NW)
The tiny hamlet of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth lies in spacious rural countryside in the valley of the River Witham.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Rockingham, in the county of Northamptonshire (13.8 miles, 22.3 km, direction SW)
This pretty village has a rising main street flanked by sturdy stone houses.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Lincolnshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Stamford Station(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
A1(M) Junction 17(10.5 miles, 16.8 km, direction SE)
A1(M) Junction 17(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction SE)
Oakham Station(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)
East Midlands Airport(37.7 miles, 60.7 km, direction W)
Cambridge Airport(41.4 miles, 66.6 km, direction SE)
Stamford to London(80.4 miles, 129.4 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Stamford

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Stamford center
The Crown Hotel(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
The Oak Inn(1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction SW)
Normanton Park Hotel(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction W)
Whitwell Hotel(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction W)
Barnsdale Hall Hotel(7.9 miles, 12.8 km, direction W)
The Old Pheasant(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction SW)
The White Swan(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction SW)
Sleep Inn Peterborough(9.7 miles, 15.5 km, direction SE)
Express By Holiday Inn Peterborough(9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction SE)
Holiday Inn Peterborough West(10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction SE)
All hotels in Stamford

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