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Near Oundle is to be found the earthwork of Fotheringay Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was confined, tried, and executed. The castle itself was levelled to the ground by order of her son, James I. On leaving Oundle we pass a station appurtenant to Wansford in England, of which we shall say a word presently.
In the night time, as is often the case in this part of the country, a sudden flood arose, and our toper awaked to find himself floating on a great tide of water, which at length brought him to a bridge, upon which, hailing the passengers, he asked, "Where am I?" in full expectation of having floated to France or Spain; whereupon they answered, "at Wansford."
The moment she opened her mouth I recognised that she was a lady. "Excuse me," she exclaimed breathlessly, "but would you do me a great favour and take us on to Wansford to the railway?" And looking, I made out that she held by the hand a fair-haired little lad about seven years of age, well dressed in a thick overcoat and knitted woollen cap and gloves.
The little boy huddled close to her as we tore on towards Wansford Station, her destination, fifteen miles distant. The ceaseless rain fell heavier as we entered the long, old-world village of Stilton, and noticing they had no mackintoshes, I pulled up before the "Bell," that well-known inn of the coaching days where the York coaches changed horses.
I drove on through the night against a pelting rain that fell between Grantham and Stamford, but at the Wansford cross-roads it cleared up, and gradually the gray dawn showed. It was half-past eight when I drove into the garage off the Tottenham Court Road, and I took a taxi to the Great Central Hotel, where I had a wash and a sleep till noon.
There is a point somewhere hereabouts where the three counties of Northampton, Lincoln, and Huntingdon all meet. WANSFORD IN ENGLAND. If about to investigate the antiquities of Stamford or Peterborough, the traveller will do well to stop at Wansford for the sake of one of the best inns in Europe, well known under the sign of "The Haycock at Wansford in England."
It was, however, very apparent that Bindo, the good-looking adventurer, had wormed himself entirely into the Chameleon's good graces. Both he and Halliday escorted the ladies over the ruins, and after tea at the old-fashioned "George," we made a quick and enjoyable run home in the sunset by way of Eye, Peterborough, Castor, and Wansford.
"You recollect that you promised to obtain something a little tittle-tattle concerning a lady." "Yes," snapped the old officer, "oh, Lady Wansford. Let us talk of something else!" Weirmarsh, who had been narrowly watching the countenance of his victim, saw that he had mentioned a disagreeable subject.
"What!" he exclaimed in ecstacy, "Wansford in England!" and landing, drank the ale and gave a new name to the inn of this village between three counties. But an easy rent, a large farm, and a trade in selling and hiring hunters, enables the landlord to provide as comfortably for his guests, as when, in old posting days, five dukes made the Haycock their night halt at one time.
BLISWORTH. 34.5 OUNDLE. 4.75 NORTHAMPTON. 40.75 WANSFORD. 15.75 WELLINGBOROUGH. STAMFORD by Coach. 20 HIGHAM FERRERS. 47.25 PETERBOROUGH. 26 THRAPSTON. From Blisworth branches out the line to Peterborough, with sixteen stations, of which we name above the more important.
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