We have been awarding Heritage certificates to shop-owners and householders who have been carrying out improvements which enhance their properties in a sympathetic manner. This helps to give a positive image for Wolverton and makes the area look more attractive.

CARPET CONNECTIONS, The Square (their previous premises) This was our very first Heritage certificate and was presented at The Lantern Festival in 1998. The window had rot at the base and needed careful renovation. The Heritage Group appreciated that the owners had not taken the easy way out and put in replacement windows. This is an immaculate restoration job, which has rescued an extremely pretty original Victorian double fronted shop for the future. The attractive black and white colour scheme emphasises the details and is completed with a co-ordinating painted shop sign. Since then the shop has been resold and we are very much hoping that the new owners will conserve a very important shopfront. We think this one is very special and featured it prominently at The Shopfronts Exhibition.

133 CHURCH STREET This shop has been empty for some time. The current owners renovated the very attractive original shop front, then put it back on the market. We passed on the certificate via the estate agent. We hope that it will soon find a caring owner or tenant who will continue to value this property.

THE OLD RAILWAY LAUNDRY/WORKS TRAINING CENTRE, Glyn Square This building which is Victorian with a 1950's façade had been empty for quite a while and looked very derelict. The windows were smashed and the paintwork was peeling. The current occupants have done a superb restoration job on the building. The pale cream paintwork suits the 1950's front. We are glad to see the Victorian tiles still intact inside.

FLEX APPEAL, Glyn Square This is a good use for a building that has had its own significance in local history as the first Market Hall (before the disastrous fire forced the move of the market to the old Railway Co. schools). The current occupants keep the building in very good order especially the large area of original railings.

GRAFTON CYCLES, Stratford Road The upper story of this building has been freshly painted in a sympathetic colour scheme, which really enhances the architectural details of the building. We understand they deliberately re-instated the original colour scheme of their property. Unfortunately the plastic signage looks rather out of keeping with the rest of the building.

TONE "N" TRIM, Stratford Road This has been painted in an extremely elegant claret and cream two-tone colour scheme which really emphasises the pretty Victorian turned details. This is a really attractive original shopfront, which has quite delicate details that deserve a closer look. The window display has now been changed to enhance and emphasise the shopfront colour and style.

LAKE BROS., Stratford Road This is an attractive double fronted shop. It still retains the original walk-in bay window on either side of the entrance. Hand painted signs have been added to this shop. The jolly red with cream details suits the shops hardware/model shop functions. This is a really good family run specialist shop of the type that is becoming increasingly rare. When we awarded the certificate at Christmas 1998, Tim Old (the owner) was Chair of the Wolverton Business Association and was extremely keen to see sympathetic improvements to the local shops. He spent quite a lot of time giving encouragement to other shop owners to think about how they could enhance their properties.

MODERN MAN, Stratford Road Very attractive dark green/gold colour scheme suited to a gent's barbers. Café curtains in green/gold blanks out some of the window to provide an unfussy backdrop totally in keeping. Co-ordinating interior in golden yellow provides a background for old local photos. The Owner plans a handpainted sign which will really crown an attractive, well thought out scheme.

ARTHUR YOUNG & CO. A more recent certificate winner. The shop has always been well maintained but their new colour scheme is a very definite improvement. The warm golden cream masonry paint suits the building and the green gloss paint completes a pleasant colour scheme. The signage is traditional and good quality.

THE NORTH WESTERN, Stratford Road Good subtle colour scheme with traditional style curtains continuing colour scheme. Always have seasonal hanging baskets and troughs. They always put up a real Christmas tree on the outside. Good traditional pub sign of a loco.

THE QUEEN VICTORIA (Zaks), Church street Dramatic black and gold colour scheme. They are very lucky to have such a fine building so it is pleasing to see architectural details emphasised. The ironwork of the inn sign is fine quality and was locally made. The Penny Black inn- sign is a nice touch. The curtain effects on the inside of the downstairs windows are interesting.

THE CRAUFURD ARMS, Stratford Road Conservation of period details. Very attractive decorative glass. The exterior lanterns are fine. The signage is in keeping including "Windsor Restaurant" hanging sign.

THE REGENCY DINER, Stratford Road Original features conserved including the glossy deep brown exterior tiles. The traditional canopy is a nice touch. The cream and claret colour scheme is a suitable choice. At the time of the certificate being awarded the interior had all wooden chairs and tables and paintings of local scenes. (Since the change of owner some of the chairs have been replaced by plastic ones and the paintings are no longer there).

THE BURGER BAR, Church Street Really good selection of nicely framed and mounted copies of old photographs. It is good to see an example of this in a "Burger Bar" setting. Original bay window upstairs, which is now uncommon in Church Street.

182 CHURCH STREET This is a favourite of both the Arts and Heritage Groups. The house has all its original features but also boasts many people's favourite piece of folk art: The locomotive hedge! The privet hedge is a topiary of an old-fashioned loco.

1 ANSON ROAD A house where the original features have been kept and enhanced. An interesting but subtle colour scheme which helps to emphasise the original green raised porch tiles. Extremely attractive door furniture. The owners have replaced the front garden railings that were such a feature when the houses were built.

38 AYLESBURY STREET We were particularly pleased with this one. In the past, someone had replaced the original portrait shaped sash window with a large landscape shaped modern window. This made a nonsense of the ornate lintel which obviously only spanned the original dimensions. The original dimensioned size window has now been restored. The brickwork has been matched in carefully and the proportions look right again. This has restored a look of harmony to that batch of houses.

THE OLD GAOL, 97 Church Street Original features retained and enhanced. LMS colour on front door!

THE OLD BAKEHOUSE Church Street Property had been empty for a while so was getting very run down. Some good quality details added. Period details retained. Attractive metal work added.

THE DRUM & MONKEY, 44a Stratford Road This is actually situated off the alleyway between Stratford Road and Church Street.This was originally a "hole in the wall" pub. The certificate was awarded in 1999 to the last owners, who retained all the features including the distinctive serving window. The black and white colour scheme suits the building.

WEST END METHODIST CHURCH We presented this certificate at the 1999 Lantern Festival. We very much appreciated the care taken by the church with their re-roofing project. It is a superb example and shows how right it looks when the original type of materials is used. The slate together with the restoration of the roof details ensures this building looks totally in keeping.

SPECIAL HERITAGE CERTIFICATES We awarded two of these in connection with "the Cast Iron Bath Project" WADE SHRIMPTON (local resident) for donation of cast iron bath to The Group for Bath House planter. VALENTINES, Stratford Road. Moving of the bath (which is pretty heavy) from Aylesbury Street to The Old Bath House.