IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Manning Road, BOURNE, PE10 9ET

The Salvation Army's presence in Bourne became established during the closing years of the 19th century but meetings were always held in temporary or makeshift premises. It was not until 1988 that land was purchased in Manning Road as the site for a permanent citadel which was completed in just 18 weeks, opening in the autumn of 1990 at a total cost of £400,000, despite one objection from a neighbour who was worried about the noise of brass bands.

Now entirely hidden by bushes, next to an unused door, is this proud little royal cypher, neatly carved in stone. The date stone is on the extreme left hand (hidden) corner of the building in Image]

After a few years meeting informally in rented accommodation the Salvation Army in Bourne quickly built their own church in Manning road, an area of former workshops. At one time they offered second hand clothes and furniture for sale, from a shed at the back, but this became such an important part of their ministry that they have opened a large shop on West Street.

A 1.3 acre site in Manning Road previously used as an agricultural machinery depot was cleared to make way for Browning Court, a three-storey sheltered housing complex for the elderly of 43 two-bedroom apartments with live-in care staff, a restaurant and formal gardens which was completed in 2008.

The depot in Manning Road was opened by Johnson Brothers Limited in 1965 on the site of the old brewery, retailing and servicing a wide variety of farm machinery ranging from tractors to lawn mowers but closed in 2005 and the 1.3 acre site was redeveloped as a complex of apartments for elderly people known as Browning Court. See Image

The Grade II chapel in Abbey Road was saved from demolition after being declared structurally unsound in 1988 and remains in use after a major renovation programme to provide more space for community use as well as services.

This was once known as "Big Tabor's". There were two shops in town run by separate chaps called Mr Tabor, and this was the larger of the two. On his retirement it passed to a couple of people from Leicester, under whose ownership it was wrecked by a powerful explosion that blew out the whole shopfront. This was replaced by the insurers with a substantial construction in hardwood of some quality, but the shop did not re-open for a decade. At some point during the pandemic (while I was distracted) it has done so, and the refitting (along with the modern requirements for disabled access) has seen all that lovely, and largely unused, woodwork swept away. The name over the door, Sams, is that of the premises next-door but one, where a youngish chap has traded in this style for 25-odd years. I am glad he has a better shop now. I have yet to go inside. There is a pandemic on, you know.

This is the same premises as in Image, but on a much nicer day. I imagine Sam will not be pleased that the Co-op will be opening a couple of hundred metres away (Image).

The Bourne congregation refer to their church as a church, not a citadel. It is certainly far more welcoming than the militaristic name would suggest.

Built in 1963 the telephone exchange was once an important place of employment. Now entirely automatic, it is rarely visited.