a surprising old maiden lady

Lord Erskine soon afterwards came to Brighton, and told Mrs. Coutts, if she would give him a dinner he would provide the fish from his own pond. She agreed; and his present proved to be an overgrown pike, weighing between thirty and forty pounds, and so hideous in its appearance that no guest touched it, the mere sight of it being perfectly disagreeable to many.

Anyone have any weird landmarks they often remember seeing along roads in the olden days?

I can't remember now where I saw an autobuffet sign quite recently.