RUTLANDSHIRE. 



RUTLANDSHIRE. 



390 



from Northamptonshire. This river is not navigable above Stamford, 

 where it quits the county altogether. The Wcuh rises just within the 

 border of Leicestershire, and flows eastward through this county into 

 Lincolnshire, where it joins the Welland below Stamford. The 

 Chater also rises in Leicestershire, and flows parallel to the Wash : it 

 joins the Welland just above Stamford. The Eye brook bounds the 

 county on the south-west, and joins the Welland below Rockingham. 

 The Wreak, which joins the Soar, a feeder of the Trent, rises in 

 Rutlandshire near Oakham, and flows northward into Leicestershire, 

 draining a small district in the north-west of the county, which is thus 

 included in the basin of the Huinber. 



The Oakham Canal is a prolongation of the Helton Mowbray naviga- 

 tion, from Helton Howbray in Leicestershire to Oakham. It follows 

 a circuitous course, passing through the vale of Catmoss, and has a total 

 length of 15 mile*, of which about six and a half miles are in Rut- 



The principal roads are, the coach road from London to Helton 

 Howbray, and the Great North road. The former enters the county 

 on the south ride just beyond Rockingham in Northamptonshire, and 

 runs northward through Uppingham and Oakham into Leicestershire. 

 The Oreat North road crosses the eastern side of the county between 

 Stamford and Qrantham. A road from Leicester to Stamford crosses 

 the county from west to east, passing through Uppingham, and fol- 

 lowing the valley of the Welland ; and two roads run from Oakham 

 into the Oreat North road one at Stamford, the other at Strettou 

 between Stamford and Grantham. 



The Syston and Peterborough railway on leaving Stamford passes 

 through Kettcn, Luffenham, Hanton, Oakham, and Ashwell in this 

 county. The section of the Great Northern railway between Peter- 

 borough and Newark cross os the eastern angle of Rutlandshire between 

 Hyhall and Essendine. 



Climate, Soil, and Affrifuiturt. The climate differs in no perceptible 

 degree from that of the surrounding counties of Leicester, Northampton, 

 and Lincoln. Of the land in the county there is hardly an acre waste. 

 Rutlandshire is a grating county. Much attention is paid to rearing 

 choice animals, both oxen and sheep. The fan of the country is 

 agreeably diversified, affording good sites for country-seats, parks, and 

 pieasure-gruunili. The best pastures are on the lias clay, which, with 

 a portion of oolite, red sand, and magnesian limestone, forms the prin- 

 cipal soil of the county. Some low meadows subject to be flooded lie 

 along toe rivers Welland, Wash, and Chater. Short-horns are the 

 general favourites with those who pay particular attention to their 

 stock. Other breeds are frequently met with, such as North Devon, 

 Hereford, and Scotch. The milch-cows are chiefly short-horns. A 

 good deal of Stilton cheese is made in the west of the county, espe- 

 cially in the districts of Leighfield Forest and the plain of Catmoss. 

 The sheep are generally of the improved Leicester breed. The farm- 

 bones are large ; strong dray-horsr* an bred in the county for the 

 London market. The hogs which are tatted are mostly of the 

 Berkshire or Suffolk breed. 



Among the mansions of this county, three are remarkable for their 

 spsninnenses and architecture, and also for the extensive grounds in 

 which they stand. Normanton Hall, the residence of Sir G. J. Heath- 

 cote, is situated two miles north from the Lnffenham station of the 

 Syston and Peterborough station. It consists of a centre, flanked by 

 wings, each front presenting a majestic simplicity united to great 

 architectural beauty. Hurley House, the seat of O. Finch, Esq., is 

 about a mile east from Oakham. It was the residence of the noble 

 family of Harrington in the reign of Elizabeth, and was purchased 

 afterwards by the Duke of Buckingham, who enlarged the mansion, 

 and entertained here, on several occasions, James I. and Charles I. 

 Daniel Finch, Earl of Nottingham, having purchased the estates, 

 erected the present magnificent resilience. The building is in the 

 Doric order. The centre of the north front is 194 feet long, and con- 

 nected, by a colonnade of 82 columns on each side, with the offices. 

 Exton Hall and park, the residence of the Earl of Gainsborough, is 

 about two miles east of Barley Park. The mansion is built in the 

 Tudor style. Exton Park abounds in the finest specimens of oak, ash, 

 beech, and elm trees. 



Dicitioru, Tovnu, Ac. The divisions of the county are as follows : 

 Alstoe Hundred, north; East Hundred, east; Martinsley Hundred, 

 central ; Oakham Soke, west ; Wrandyke Hundred, south and south- 

 east There are only two market towns, OAKHAU and UFFISOHAH. 



The following are the more important villages, with the parish 

 populations in 1851, and a few other particulars : 



Harmed, population 718, is 10 miles S.E. from Oakham, on the 

 left bank of the Welland, which here bounds the county. An estab- 

 lishment for the manufacture of carpet-rugs, white leather, parchment, 

 and glue, employs some of the inhabitants. Btlion, population 408, 

 about 4 miles W. by N. from Uppingham, near the left bank of the 

 Rye Brook, contains several well-built houses. Beniiles the parish 

 church there are a chapel for Baptists and a Free school Halting is 

 carried on. Urutuutm, population 411, about 2 miles S.W. from Oak- 

 ham, in a retired valley near I^eighfleld Forest, has a venerable gothic 

 church, with a tower and spire ; a chapel for Baptists ; and a National 

 school Cotlenutrt. population 735, about 4 4 milrs N.E. from Oakham, 

 occupies an elevated site, and has a respectable appearance. The 

 church is a fine gothic edifice. There are National schools. R. W. 



Baker, Esq., introduced here the system of allotments of land for 

 cultivation in email patches ; founded the County Friendly Society ; 

 instituted prize-ploughing matches; and in other modes promoted the 

 general welfare. The ' Cotteamore Hunt ' has a pack of about 70 fox- 

 hounds, and a stud of horses of considerable value. Empingham, 

 population 938, about 6\ miles E. from Oakham, contains a handsome 

 cruciform church, of Norman and early English character; in it is a 

 fine window filled with ancient painted glass, exhibiting numerous 

 armorial bearings. The Wealeyan Methodists have a chapel, and there 

 is an Endowed National school Exton, population 832, about 5 miles 

 E.N.E. from Oakham, has a handsome gothic cliurch, with a tower 

 and spire. Schools for girls and infants are supported by the Countess 

 of Gainsborough; there is also a Free school for boys. Greet/tarn, 

 population 713, about 6 miles E.N.E. from Oakham, a long straggling 

 village, possesses an ancient parish church with a tower and spire ; 

 also National and Infant schools. Forster's charity, founded in 1692, 

 for the instruction of children in Greetham and several neighbouring 

 parishes, produces above 400/. a year. KeUon, population 1138, a well- 

 built village, 9 miles E. by N. from Uppingham, stands in a valley on 

 the left batik of the river Welland. The church is cruciform, with a 

 tower rising from the intersection, surmounted with a spire ISO feet 

 high. Parts of the west front are Norman. Quarries of good free- 

 stone for building are in the vicinity. Langham, population 629, 

 about 2 miles N.W. from Oakham, has an ancient church, with a tower 

 and spire, erected about 1235 ; chapels for Wealeyan Methodists and 

 Baptists ; a British school and a Free school Liddington, or Lyd- 

 dington, population 604, a long straggling village, once a market-town, 

 24 miles S. from Uppingham, has a parish church, a chapel for Wesleyan 

 Methodists, a Free school, and au hospital, called Jesus Hospital, 

 founded in 1600 by Lord Burghley for a warden, 12 brethren, and 

 2 nurses. Lufenham, North, population 442, about 7 miles E.N.E. 

 from Uppingham, has a handsome gothio church, with a tower aud 

 spire ; and a Free school Lufrnham, South, population 437, about 

 6 miles E. by N. from Uppingham, possesses an ancient gothic church, 

 with parts of Norman character. In the village are National schools. 

 Markrt Ore-ton, population 493, near the north border of the county, 

 6 miK* N. from Oakham, formerly possessed a market The parish 

 church is a neat early EnglUh structure, with a tower. Rykall, 

 population 1075, including 285 labourers on the works of the Great 

 Northern railway, situated 3 miles N. by E. from .Stamford, ig a village 

 of considerable sue. It contains a handsome church, with a tower 

 and spire ; National schools ; a large corn-mill ; and an establishment 

 for the manufacture of agricultural implements. Wiuttendinc, popu- 

 lation 795, about 4 miles N.N.W. from Oakham, possesses a handsome 

 church, with a square tower; chapols for Wealeyan and Primitive 

 Methodists ; and a Free school Halting is carried on. 



Difitiontfur Eccitnattital and Legal Purpotet. The county is in 

 the archdeaconry of Northampton and diocese of Peterborough. It 

 is included in the Midland Circuit; the assizes and quarter-sessions 

 are held at Oakham, where is the county jail County courts are 

 held at Oakham and Uppingham ; which are also the seats of Poor- 

 Law Unions. The county returns two members to the Imperial 

 Parliament 



Hutory and Antiquities This county appears to have been included 

 in the country of the Coritani; and upon the Roman conquest of 

 Britain it was included in the province of Flavia Caw&rienais. A 

 Roman road (Ermine-street) crossed the eastern side of the county in 

 the line of the present North road. Some remains of a Roman station 

 Great Casterton. 



Under the Saxons this county was included in the kingdom of Heroia. 

 In the reign of John, Rutland, then first mentioned as a county, was 

 assigned to his queen Isabel as part of her dower. An Earl of Hut- 

 land is mentioned in a charter of Henry I. The first earl known to 

 history was Edward, eldest son of Edmund of Langley, who was the 

 fifth son of Edward III. The title was inherited by Richard, duke of 

 York, and by his son, a boy of 12 years of age, who was stabbed by 

 Lord Clifford after the battle of Wakefield in 1460. The earldom 

 was revived by Henry VIII., and conferred on the family of Roos : it 

 afterwards came to the Manners family, in whoso favour it was raised 

 to a dukedom, which still exists. 



In 1381 Henry le Spencer, bishop of Norwich, assembled a force at 

 Burley in this county to suppress the insurrection of the commons in 

 Norfolk, under John the Litester, or Dyer. In 1468 the Lincolnshire 

 insurgents under Sir Robert Wells were defeated with great loss by 

 Edward IV., at Hornfield in Ernpiugham parish. The battle is com- 

 monly known as the battle of Lose-coat-field, from the fugitives throw- 

 ing off their coats in order to escape more swiftly. 



The antiquities of the county are cbiefly ecclesiastical Tickeucote, 

 Little Casterton, Empingham, Essendine, and Ketton churches, all on 

 the east side of the county, date from the Norman period. Tickeu- 

 cote was rebuilt in 1792, aud only the elaborately-ornamented arch 

 between the nave and chancel, and part of the groining of the chancel, 

 with the font, remain. Essendine is a small cliurch, with nave aud 

 chancel, and a gable for two bells at the western end : the architecture 

 is partly Norman, partly early Euglinh : the south doorway is Norman, 

 with sculpture in the tympanum and elsewhere. 



Statistic*: Jitligiotu Worihip and Education. According i 

 Returns of the Census in 1851, it appears that there were then in the 



