and York as if a' the land had been trenched and levelled, whilk is very wearisome to my Scotch een. . . .' 'As for the matter of that, young woman,' said mine host, 'an you be so fond o' hill, I carena an thou couldst carry Gunnerby away with thee in thy lap, for it's a murder to post-horses.'"
From the top of Gonerby Hill or Gunnerby (according to the old maps) we had a long run down into Grantham, where we sought "shelter and a night's lodging" beneath the sign of the "Angel," one of the few medieval hostelries left to us; at the moment I can only call to memory six others in England, but there may be more.
A most interesting old building is the Angel at Grantham, with its weather-worn and time-stained front of stone facing the street and giving it quite a special character; nor do you come upon so aged and historic an hostelry every day. At the end of the drip mouldings on either side of the central archway that gives access to the building, are sculptured heads representing those of Edward III. and Philippa his Queen; at least so we were told, we had no other means of knowing whom the heads were intended for. One has to take many things on faith in this world! Over the archway projects a fine oriel window ornamented with carvings, the window being supported on a corbel composed of an angel with outspread wings. It was in this very building—according to our landlord who had naturally studied the history of his old house—that King John held his Court on 23rd February 1213
