The county of Rutland is England's smallest county. With it superb array of forty-two village churches set among mellowed stone and thatched cootages, its fine manor houses and other buildings, rich in history and set in an agricultural landscape, Rutland is one of England's most beautiful counties. Rutland is most famous for the reservoir, completed in 1974. Originally known as Empingham Reservoir, today it has established itself as a centre of national importance for leisure activities and the superb nature reserve, now established is considered to be of international importance. One of Rutland's most photographed buildings is Normanton Church, lying on the south-east shore of the reservoir. This website aims to build into a photographic record of this county, containing panoramic images of the towns and villages of Rutland. Please use the menu above to select a profile of a village or town of Rutland. Each profile contains a short history and links to panoramic photographs.
ASHWELL
The village of Ashwell lies to the north of the market town of Oakham. At the centre of Ashwell is St Mary's Church. The church was built mainly in the decorated style was but largely restored in 1851 by Butterfield. The 14th century hollow oak effigy in the south chapel probably commerates one of the Tuchet family who held the Manor until 1515. The Manor is known to have belonged to King Harold before the Norman Conquest.
BARROWDEN
Barrowden sits on the southern border of the county, lying close to the A47 road running west-east and west of the village of Tixover. This was an important centre in the eleventh century with a weekly market and annual fair. In 1558 the Manor was granted to Princess Elizabeth by Henry VIII. The church of St Peter has a superb fourteenth century spire. The village is famous for its fine village green and ponds that make it attractive and picturesque and typifies the charming villages that characterise this county.
BROOKE
Just two miles south-west from Oakham, Brooke is a tiny village tucked away in the quiet countryside. THe church of St Peter has a Norman tower and south doorway, north arcade and font. The village formerly belonged to the Manor of Oakham, buit from the 13th century it was owned by the Priory of St Mary's, although nothing now remains of the original Priory. St Peter's Church appeared in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
COTTESMORE
At the heart of Cottesmore is the church of St Nicholas. The village is home to the famous midland hunt since 1740. Cottesmore is also home to a base of the Royal Air Force, which opened a base in the village in March 1938. During the Second World War the base was initially used by RAF Bomber Command and later by the Unites States Air Force. Currently four squadrons - 1 (F) Squadron, IV(AC) Squadron, 800 Naval Air Squadron and 801 Naval Air Squadron - operate from Cottesmore flying Harrier aircraft. The Station is motto "We Rise to our Obstacles"
MARKET OVERTON
Market Overton lies towards the northern boundary of Rutland. A market has existed at here since at least 1200. The village stands on top of a limestone ridge. Long known as a Roman Site, quantities of coins and other items have been found east of the village. The church of St Peter and Paul is built mainly in the decorate style. The sun dial on the church is said to have been given by Sir Isaac Newton whose grandmother lived in the village. The old stocks and whipping post can be found on the village green.
View panoramic image of Market Overton (opens in a new window)
MARTINSTHORPE
Once a parish in its own right, the humps and hollows of the earthworks and the abandoned Old Hall Farm are all the remains of Martinsthorpe. It sits on a ridge between the rivers Chater and Gwash. The earliest reference is 1199 but there may have been a settlement before the Doomsday Survey in 1086. The De Montforts held Martinsthorpe as tenants for Earls of Warwick in the latter part of the 13th century. In 1440 it passed to the Fielding family and by 1522 it was virutally deserted.
View panoramic images of Martinsthorpe (opens in a new window)
OAKHAM
The Market Place, Castle and All Saint's Church lie at the heart of the market town of Oakham. The Market Place is famous for its medieval Buttercross, opposite Oakham School House which dates from 1850-55, built int he Tudor style. The Hall of Oakham Castle is all that suvives from the castle, dating from around 1130-1190. It was built by Walkelyn de Ferrars. Inside it has naves and aisles like a church. The mounds in the grounds are the only visible signs of the original castle.
RIDLINGTON
Ridlington lies to the north-west of the market town of Uppingham. This very old village was part of the dower of the West Saxon queens from the early 10th century. This was also a Royal park from the Forest of Leighfield held by King John and the last stag is said to have been hunted at Ridlington as late as 1800. The church of St Mary and St Andrew was almost a ruin when it was restored in the nineteenth century by Halliday of Greetham.
SEATON
High above the River Welland which forms the county bounadry stands Seaton Viaduct. The viaduct was built in 1876-78 and carried the main London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) line from Kettering to St Pancras, little used since the Beeching era (when the railway network was rationalised and many branch lines were closed). It consists of eighty-three arches, more than three quarters of a mile long; a monument to Victorian engineering.
View panoramic image of Seaton Viaduct (opens in a new window)
TEIGH
Teigh lies towards the northern boundary of Rutland, close to the larger villages of Market Overton, to the east, and Ashwell, to the west. This tiny village has a church, Holy Trinity, which was, except for the tower, entirely rebuilt in 1782 by the Rev Robert Sh1erard who was rector for 40 years. In the west end of the church is a rare eighteenth century pulpit flanked by two reading desks. The remainder of the village comprises a small number of houses and cottages.
THISTLETON
Thistleton lies near the north border of the county, between Market Overton to the west and the A1 running north-south lying to the east. The Manor was owned by the Brudenell family since the 16th century. The medieval church of St Nicholas was rebuilt twice; in the 1780s by the Brudenells and later by the rector, the Rev Sir J Henry Fludyer, Bart. The elaborate apse is probably a memorial to his family designed by the rector.
TIXOVER
A lone sentinel on the north bank of the Welland, half a mile from the village stands the church of St Mary Magdalen. It is unlike anything else you will see in Rutland. The massive tower is the earliest part of the church and formed part of an earlier 12th century building. At the time of the Doomsday Survey, Tixover Manor was part of the King's Manor of Ketton. Around 1004 Henry I granted it to Robert, Bishop of Lincoln who gave it to the famous French Abbey of Cluny in whose possession it remained until the lands were seized by Henry V.
