History of Sandy - Modern Times (2)
Since Sandy Community website was launched in 1999, we have seen yet more changes in the life of Sandy and its' citizens.
Our postscript, which we hope will last a further 5 years or so, is intended to describe these changes and developments in order to provide a more rounded update to the information contained elsewhere in the site.
In 1965, we had several banks, at least three building societies and a firm of solicitors called Leeds Smith (Founded by E.T. Leeds Smith). In 2005, we have three banks, one of which is a former building society (latterly the Woolwich Bank, which itself acquired the Gateway Building Society in the High Street) and now owned by Barclays Bank.
In 1965, we had Sandy Urban District Council operating out of offices at Fane's Corner, an area re-developed following the decision to build the GLC London overspill project to the north side of St Neot's Road (1973). The old council offices were occupied by Bedford Building Society, with the newly formed Sandy Town Council moving to the old Fire Station in Cambridge Road (1974).
The offices were later occupied by Gareth Woodfine solicitors but the property has recently become redundant again, with the acquisition of Leeds Smith by Woodfine (now called Woodfine Leeds Smith and occupying the premises previously held by Leeds Smith, next door in Bedford Road). The old Woodfine offices are now let, becoming the new 'Gaffney's' restaurant and function venue, which opened on December 1st 2006. The original plan had been for a new NHS dentist in the town. However, following the retirement of local shoe mender, Keith Marsom in the Spring of 2006, the dental practice next door in the Market Square, run by Uday Patel, acquired the premises and extended into it, together with the provision of a dental service specifically to deal with NHS patients - something long needed in the town.
(Picture is of former Sandy Building Society, now Woodfine Leeds Smith)
Following a campaign led by
Sandy Historical Research Group, part of the Market Square street scene has been preserved with the old Baptist Chapel in Pleasant Place and nos 2- 4 St Neots Road. A Planning Application was approved for the demolition of Magnolia House (early 2006)and the whole site, apart from the old coal office and nos 2-4 St Neots Road, now turned over to the construction of new buildings. As at January 2007 however, the much speculated "new" Magnolia House is yet to be seen, as the development is ongoing. The latest news, as at mid January 2007, is the instead of 'Magnolia Court' the new development is to be named after the late Richard Downing.
(Picture is of the Baptist Chapel c.1974, Courtesy Ruby King)
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