Burghley Street

This narrow and winding thoroughfare just off the town centre behind North Street contains an eclectic mix of properties that include cottages and council houses, commercial premises, a church, two clubs and a car park and a quaint little private house called Hedgehog Corner. But it is also dangerous as heavy vehicles daily compete for passing space with cars, making it extremely hazardous for pedestrians, a constant reminder that it should long ago have been designated a one-way street. 

Burghley Street was named after William Cecil, the Elizabethan statesman who was born in the town in 1520 and who later became the first Lord Burghley, and the seven cottages here are known as Exeter Row, perpetuating the name of his descendant, the Marquess of Exeter, who was Lord of the Manor of Bourne when they were built in the 19th century. These terraced cottages occupy one of the most prominent positions in Bourne and the white frontage gives these small homes a distinguished appearance on a sunny day. 

Red brick council houses can be found in many parts of Bourne because they were built by the local authorities during the housing shortages of the past 100 years on any available plot of land to provide accommodation for the less well off. Generations of the same family have been born and brought up here and still call them home and they survive as part of the nation's housing stock with many useful years ahead. The ten homes in this terrace overlooking the public car park in Burghley Street are the nearest council houses to the town centre and some of these "three up and two down" have become so loved by their tenants that they have bought them and are now proud owners and some give their gardens tender loving care.

The car park in Burghley Street is situated behind the Post Office and in 2003, South Kesteven District Council built a new red brick wall and planted ornamental shrubs along the street edge as part of their town enhancement scheme. At the North Street end of the car park, old warehouse buildings have been converted for use as the Daytime Day Nursery and Playschool for toddlers, a well used amenity in an age when most young mothers go out to work and therefore need somewhere to leave their children during the day. Planning permission for the change of use was granted in 1999 and the building has been suitably painted in decorative colours as a welcome to mothers and their children. There are currently 56 children on the register and in August 2004, the school was awarded a national accreditation certificate by the Pre-School Learning Alliance in recognition of its excellent standards.

BURGHLEY STREET IN RECENT TIMES

North's Garden Centre  occupied the site on the corner of Burghley Street and Exeter Street until it closed in 1999. There were hopes that the land would be acquired by South Kesteven District Council for additional car parking but the opportunity was missed and a new day nursery BBK opened there in 2001.

REVISED AUGUST 2014
 

See also The RAOB Club     The British Legion Club