July 2025. Belton, Grantham.
It’s our decennial National Trust membership year as I get to feel we’re getting value for our £139.20 by visiting every stately home and deer park in England.
Mrs RM was drinking DIPAs in Nantes while I pulled off the A1 north of Grantham to join the gentlefolk at Belton House, which looks exactly as you’d expect if you’ve been to Anglesey Abbey or Hardwick Hall.
Years ago Mrs RM challenged me to see who could nip round these homes quickest, which was a challenge when 2 volunteers used to bombard you with questions. In 2025 the volunteers have dried up (because of woke, I guess), and it’s all interpretive panels these days.
Belton is more about the grounds,
which are stunning for somewhere within 5 minutes of Grantham.
And in that parish church,
you can see how the upper classes used to demonstrate affection in the 17th century.
A firm handshake is quite sufficient, folks.
I walked for an hour around the lakes,
and returned to find the deer entertaining the toddlers.
What I didn’t find was a pub stop.
Grantham is OK, but the stretch from Belton into South Kesteven is one of the most sparsely pubbed parts of the country, keg golf club apart.
Old Somerby, that’s your option. Greene King IPA at the Fox & Hounds. Or press on to Stamford.
retiredmartin 
1590: Life expectancy 89.
I think that these occupational pension providers are having a laugh with their “unaffordability owing to ever-increasing life expectancy” caper, personally.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Medieval people didn’t have terribly low life expectancies. The average was very low due to the level of infant and childhood mortality. But if you made it to age 10, you had a pretty good chance of living to your 60s or beyond, unless you died by violence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“But if you made it to age 10, you” started using pubs at 11 and “had a pretty good chance of living to your 60s or beyond, unless you died by violence” such as in a pub brawl.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or poisoning by consumption of Donnington BB.
LikeLike