PAGE To the North in the Days of Old: Mails starting Frontispiece from the General Post Office, Lombard Street Old and New Swan Nicks: Vintners’ Company 16 Modern Sign of the “Swan with Two Necks” 17 The “Spread Eagle,” Gracechurch Street 19 The “Saracen’s Head,” Snow Hill 23 The Mails starting from the General Post Office, 27 1832 The “Louth Mail” stopped by the snow 43 Entrance to London from Islington, 1809 47 Islington Green, 1820 50 Old Highgate Archway, demolished 1897 63 The Great Common of Finchley: A Parlous Place 67 Turpin’s Oak 70 “The Whetstone” 72 High Street, Barnet 77 Hadley Green: Site of the Battle of Barnet 81 Old Toll House, Potter’s Bar 82 Ganwick Corner 83 Bell Bar 84 Welwyn 89 The “Six Hills,” Stevenage 95 Trigg’s Coffin 102 At the 39th Mile 106 Biggleswade 108 Buckden 115 Matcham’s Bridge 119 Alconbury Hill: Junction of the Great North Road 123 and the North Road The “Bell,” Stilton 127 Norman Cross 129 French Prisoners of War Monument, Norman Cross 132 Sculptured Figure, Water Newton Church 133 Water Newton Church 134 Edmund Boulter’s Milestone 135 The “Haycock,” Wansford 137 Sign of the “Haycock” 138 Wansford Bridge 139 Burghley House, by Stamford Town 143 Entrance to Stamford 147 Stamford 151 Daniel Lambert 152 The “Highflyer,” 1840 155