to-day, the white gate indicating the spot where the original entrance was.
But if you have kept your eyes open, you will not only have observed the sign of the George Inn, but will also have observed a notice board which informs you that the Inn figures in Jeffrey Farnol's story "The Amateur Gentleman." When once through the gateway, the imposing and picturesque building confronts you on the right, with its two galleries, stretching across the building, with its bedrooms running out of them, with a bell over each door, reminding you immediately of the minute descriptions of such scenes to be found in the pages of Dickens, particularly of the memorable one of Sam Weller cleaning the boots below and incidentally indulging in a dialogue with a maid leaning over the balustrades above, which is described as having occurred at the White Hart that once stood not very far away.[1] The whole view calls up memories of the days when the Pickwickians travelled from inn to inn, and of the days of coaching, the stories of which have such a fascination in these modern days of trains, motors and aeroplanes. On page 36 is a view showing the opposite end of the Inn as it was in 1889, which will further recall those pleasant days.
As we stand with a view of the whole building in our mind's eye, we are reminded of what Mr. Percy FitzGerald says of old inns in general:
"The tiled roofs of these buildings seemed to grow bent from age and weakness, and fall into those wavings and twists which form an element of the picturesque. The old wood balustrades grew black and grimed, and it was wonderful how what appeared so crazy should have held together so long."
These meditative remarks, however, apply admirably to the old George Inn, which we are thankful has not entirely fallen a victim to modern demands.
- ↑ The question of the "White Hart" and the "George" is dealt with in a separate chapter.
