At the centre of your being you have the answer, you know who you are and you know what you want ~ Lao Tzu

Thursday, May 19

Come Aboard for a Scoot Into Town...

I so enjoyed lunch together yesterday, I thought I'd invite you to scoot into town with me and see the sights of Grantham - such as they are!

I decided to brave the threatening clouds, as I can only get into town when Nick's working from home, just in case my less-than-trusty steed doesn't make it home...



This is the scenic route...


... a little cut-through lane out of the estate... It may not be the safest route after dark, but in the daytime, with all the birds singing, it's a joy!! And it opens onto the bowling green and tennis courts...



And opposite, is a grand Georgian house *sigh* which is now an old folks' home...


... and I had to take a couple of close ups of the wild roses tumbling over the fence...



... the bees love them...


Past the tennis courts, a playing field opens up, backed my majestic trees, which do a grand job of hiding the fast train track down to London! Sadly, they do nothing for the noise... which is always such a shock after the birdsong and the gentle thud of tennis balls!


Turning left we join the main path and road into town.
It used to be the Great North Road and was the only route to London before they built the A1 and the by-pass. It's hard to imagine stage-coaches rattling along here amid the din of modern-day traffic, but it becomes easier as the path becomes North Parade - my favourite street in Grantham - lined with lime trees and flanked by Georgian townhouses and villas *sigh*




Then into town itself...

I admit I couldn't bring myself to show all the boarded-up shops and retail units for let - it's just too depressing and too familiar a sight throughout the Western world at present. So i'll show you a couple of unique features of the grand olde towne of Grantham.



St Wulfram's spire dominates the skyline - built in the 1300s and standing 282 feet tall! Click on this link to see pictures of the inside - it is breathtaking!!

Just down the road from this shot stands The Angel and Royal, the oldest surviving English inn, built in 1203...



... and in the centre of town stands the Guildhall built in 1866 with Isaac Newton's statue standing in front. Sir Isaac was born down the road from Grantham in Woolsthorpe in 1643 and attended The Kings School, which my son now attends(!) in 1655--60.


And that, my friends, is the grand tour of Grantham!
Phew! I'm exhausted, how about you??
Hope you enjoyed it, though :)

7 comments:

Barb said...

I loved the tour, the pictures are great... I had never seen a chained library... very interesting. Come visit my blog if you like. blessings~barb

Unknown said...

Thanks for the road trip : )

J C said...

I totally enjoyed this little jaunt with you, and I made a side trip to the church too. Breathtakingly beautiful, it is. And imagine, that Inn built in 1203 and still standing. Amazing. Thanks so much for taking me along!

Anonymous said...

Felt like I was sitting in the basket there Claire :O - nice guided tour of a place I've never visited thank you.
Sue

Anonymous said...

I love your tour. It's hard for me to imagine, having lived all my life in the western part of the US, where something from the early 1800s is old. I love history, and it's great you have so many amazing examples of it around you. Thank you for sharing!

poppy m said...

Thanks for the tour Claire - I dont think I've shopped in Grantham - only been thro it. Loved the photos - roses tell me summer is nearly here.
Meredith

Amanda Laurel Atkins said...

How beautiful, Claire! A perfect answer to the question asked on my blog, haha! I love all the gorgeous old buildings, and that little path up at the top of the post...sigh.