Staine Hundred
The weather was perfect for the Staine Hundred Outing on Thursday, June 10th
and, apart from a hold-up on the A14 before Huntingdon, everything went very
smoothly. Coffee with delicious shortbread was enjoyed at the George in
Stamford, an ancient hostelry that once belonged to the Abbots of Crowland and
then to the Abbot of Peterborough in 947 AD. Although it is seeped in history,
it has an air of luxury, and was well worth a visit.
From there the coach proceeded along the A1 to Grantham where Belton House was reached at noon. Built in 1085, and a family home for 300 years before being taken over by the National Trust 20 years ago, the house had much of interest with a collection of pictures, fine furniture, wall mirrors and tapestries, and a collection of 15,000 leather bound books. The house is surrounded by a landscaped park of 36 acres where sheep graze, a lake, formal gardens near the house, including a sunken Italian garden which leads to an Orangery, filled with plants and cool after the heat outside. Nearby is the village church, filled with family memorials to the Brownlow family. Services are held here twice a month. There is also a private chapel in the House.
The journey home was accomplished in 1 1/2 hours - leaving everyone time to go and vote! Thanks were given by the chairman, Maureen Rogers, to Stewart Bell for organizing the outing, and to Peter Arnold for looking after the money side.
The next Staine Hundred Meeting will be on Wednesday, 8th September, when Bill Wittering will be the speaker.