Stamford is that place where, some say, the Saxons, who were mercenaries under the command of Hengist, defeated the Picts and Scots. King Vortigen, a warlod really, gave Hengist land in Lincolnshire for this service. That was in the 5th-century; not to be confused with the Battle of Stamford Bridge which was miles away to the north and 500 years later . Not that any of that changes the fact that Stamford is a lovely town with plenty of activity; the Arts Centre is the hub.Wandering around the town is a pleasure and the churches we visited: All Saints', St John's, St Mary's and St Martin's, were actually open - maybe Stamfordians are less prone to stealing the church goodies to fund their habit. St Michael's on the High Street had been disused since 1962 and is now transformed into shops and offices; it still looks like a splendid church with architecture that shows the modern buildings for what they are - dull!