ALE Summer 2004 No. 314 : Next section

Return to Stamford

Inspired by Paul Ainsworth's Stamford write-up in ALE 294, I wanted to visit this unusual place and try its range of pubs.

A potted history
Stamford was a key hub in the era of horse-drawn coaches on the Great North Road (now the A1) between London and York. At the peak, 20 coaches left the George Hotel in each direction each day.
The Stamford Mercury is reckoned to be the oldest surviving local newspaper (1695): it thrived on the latest news from London and used to be distributed widely, including to Cambridge.
During the railway era Stamford was bypassed by the new mainline network, resulting in something of a decline. However this meant there was little redevelopment, so it retains many elegant buildings from the Georgian period, mostly in the local stone.
Burleigh House is nearby and the Burleigh Estate seems to own a lot of property in the town still: this is probably another factor in the preservation.

A potted history
Stamford was a key hub in the era of horse-drawn coaches on the Great North Road (now the A1) between London and York. At the peak, 20 coaches left the George Hotel in each direction each day.
The Stamford Mercury is reckoned to be the oldest surviving local newspaper (1695): it thrived on the latest news from London and used to be distributed widely, including to Cambridge.
During the railway era Stamford was bypassed by the new mainline network, resulting in something of a decline. However this meant there was little redevelopment, so it retains many elegant buildings from the Georgian period, mostly in the local stone.
Burleigh House is nearby and the Burleigh Estate seems to own a lot of property in the town still: this is probably another factor in the preservation.

Next page: Day 1

[ A Potted History - Day 1 - Day 2 - References & Notes - Other pubs not visited - Articles - About Stamford - Other links - More Pictures ]

ALE Summer 2004 No. 314 : Next section
Cambridge & District CAMRA