Bourne Civic Society
Encyclopedia
Bourne Civic Society is a voluntary organization concerned with the development of the town and community of Bourne, Lincolnshire
, England
.
It was founded in 1977 at a time of a rapid expansion of the town. Its aim is to carry the good features of the town from the past into the future, while improving the existing structures.
The society arranges talks and visits but its most visible work has gone into its heritage centre in Baldock's Mill.
in 1944.
However it was seen as important that the society should have a base of its own in which a permanent exhibition could be developed for townspeople and visitors. For this purpose, a lease was negotiated with Bourne United Charities
, allowing use of Baldock's Mill of which the former tenant, the Red Cross, had moved to new premises. The building was renovated and converted by voluntary work and youth training schemes, under the guidance of a chartered surveyor
member of the society.
Since 1988, the displays have been developed, at first with temporary exhibitions such as one commemorating the 850th anniversary of Bourne Abbey
's charter. Since then numerous small collections have been put together. The three largest features are now:
Bourne, Lincolnshire
Bourne is a market town and civil parish on the western edge of the Fens, in the District of South Kesteven in southern Lincolnshire, England.-The town:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It was founded in 1977 at a time of a rapid expansion of the town. Its aim is to carry the good features of the town from the past into the future, while improving the existing structures.
The society arranges talks and visits but its most visible work has gone into its heritage centre in Baldock's Mill.
Bourne Heritage Centre (Baldock's Mill)
In the early years of the society's existence, it set up short-term exhibitions in places like the Red Hall, to draw attention to what the town had achieved in the past and to date. A notable one, in 1984, commemorated the town's accommodating Parachute Regiment men, in the months before they flew to ArnhemOperation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
in 1944.
However it was seen as important that the society should have a base of its own in which a permanent exhibition could be developed for townspeople and visitors. For this purpose, a lease was negotiated with Bourne United Charities
Bourne United Charities
Bourne United Charities is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Its purpose is the joint administration of several legacies dedicated for the relief of poverty, the provision of housing and accommodation and environmental, conservation or heritage objectives in the Parish...
, allowing use of Baldock's Mill of which the former tenant, the Red Cross, had moved to new premises. The building was renovated and converted by voluntary work and youth training schemes, under the guidance of a chartered surveyor
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
member of the society.
Since 1988, the displays have been developed, at first with temporary exhibitions such as one commemorating the 850th anniversary of Bourne Abbey
Bourne Abbey
Bourne Abbey and the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is a scheduled Grade I church in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England. The building remains in parochial use, despite the 16th century Dissolution, as the nave was used by the parish, probably from the time of the foundation of the abbey in...
's charter. Since then numerous small collections have been put together. The three largest features are now:
- the Raymond MaysRaymond MaysThomas Raymond Mays CBE was an auto racing driver and entrepreneur from Bourne, Lincolnshire, England.He attended Oundle School, where he met Amherst Villiers, leaving at the end of 1917. After army service in the Grenadier Guards in France, he attended Christ's College, Cambridge...
room, dealing with the life in motor racing, of a man who lived all his life in the town. It features his key rôle in developing the ERAEnglish Racing AutomobilesEnglish Racing Automobiles was a British racing car manufacturer active from 1933 to 1954. Currently the ERA trademark is owned by a British kit-car manufacturer.-Prewar history:...
and BRMBritish Racing MotorsBritish Racing Motors was a British Formula One motor racing team. Founded in 1945, it raced from 1950 to 1977, competing in 197 Grands Prix and winning 17. In 1962, BRM won the Constructors' Title. At the same time, its driver, Graham Hill became World Champion...
marques. - The Charles Worth Room, which uses replica dresses to draw attention to the work of the man who established the Haute Couture trade in Paris, having been born and started his working life in Bourne, moved to London and on to Paris.
- The installation of a water wheel replacing that which failed in around 1920. The present one is of Poncelet'sJean-Victor PonceletJean-Victor Poncelet was a French engineer and mathematician who served most notably as the commandant general of the École Polytechnique...
design and drives an electricity generator. - The latest is a temporary exhibition of wedding dresses and accessories. It runs from 16 April to 8 May 2011.
External links
- http://www.bournecivicsociety.org.uk/about_us.htm Bourne Civic Society's web site