The Heart of England

We welcomingly receive letters and emails from all over the globe, with many asking for more information about our part of this ever shrinking world

Grantham is a medieval market town in the county of Lincolnshire built on agriculture and wool. It was the preferred stopping place on the journey from London to the North because of its many inns and hostelries. The industrial revolution brought ironworks and this heavy industry continued in Grantham until well after the Second World War. During the war pilots flying from the airfields of Lincolnshire helped to turn the tide of battle and win the War. Indeed Grantham itself was the headquarters for the 'Dambusters Raid' and incidently was also the most bombed town of its size in the country. The town you see today is mostly Georgian and the main industry is food manufacturing.

Assembled Stories is a family firm located in the historic quarter of the town called Swine Gate. Around the corner is one of the oldest coaching inns in England - 'The Angel & Royal' built by the Knights Templar in 1195 and used as a court by King John. It was here that Richard III signed the Duke of Buckingham's death warrant. Adjacent to our office is the King's School, one of the oldest and respected schools in the country. To the front of our office, across the green close of St. Wulfram's - one of the finest parish churches in the country, is Grantham House where Henry VII's daughter, Margaret, stayed on her way north to marry James IV of Scotland in 1503.

Coming forward in history one of the most intelligent and influential men in history - Sir Issac Newton was born close to Grantham becoming a pupil of King's School in 1654. Although not much is known about his time at Kings, he did become head boy and his name can be seen carved on a stone window sill in the old school. Thus, many of the locals claim it wasn't gravity he discovered but graffiti! Newton was unable to retire to Grantham House as planned - illness in his old age meant he stayed in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Author Baron Corvo, nom de plume of Frederik Rolfe, was a master at the Kings School. His best known work is Hadran VII.

In the more recent past Britain's first woman Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven (Margaret Thatcher) was born above her fathers grocery shop a mere stone's throw from the bottom of Swine Gate.

With such inspiring surroundings you can be assured our staff are dedicated to bringing you the finest literature from the past wherever you may be.