Local History & Record Society

No 1/04 January 2004

EDITORIAL - to involve the community widely in the can do will contribute towards an outcome I wrote the last editorial during a heat project and thereby reinforce community which will be of long-lasting interest to all wave at the beginning of August 2003, with identity local people as well as Society members. the temperature near 34 deg C. It is - to produce a well researched record which We hope that many of you will volunteer snowing as I write this editorial! Quite a the public may consult, enjoy and build to be part of this exciting project which will contrast! However, as we move into our on help the Society to become more actively spring programme, and start to devise With the help of society members and involved in Rutland's wider community. To events and meetings for the summer and other groups including young people, we find out more, please contact me or any autumn I am reminded of more pleasant hope to achieve the following objectives other member of the Steering Group. conditions. Several events have already over the next 12 - 18 month Sue Howlett been agreed and you will find advance - An oral history project leading to an item [email protected] information in this newsletter about a on local radio summer social, a visit to a country house, a - An exhibition initially at Rutland County guided historical walk in the south of the Museum, then touring different Rutland NEWS FROM RUTLAND COUNTY county and this year‘s village visit. venues MUSEUM There are also items on the new look - A website linked to the Local Heritage Museum Development Programme museum, our library, forthcoming Society Initiative website , Rutnet and other Most of the builders‘ work is now publications, the Village Studies Group, local groups and topics complete and it is expected that the new Belton History Society, and more. I have - A detailed map of the area as it existed entrance off South Street car park will be also included reports on recent meetings before the coming of Rutland Water open mid February. At the same time the and events for those who were not present, - A Timeline of historic periods and more present entrance from Catmose Street will and/or do not see the local papers. recent events which affected the area be closed. The Executive Committee agreed at its - An illustrated publication and leaflets Officers and committee members of the meeting in November to embark on a very drawing attention to different aspects of Society and Friends of RCM were invited exciting project – to apply for a grant from the heritage of Rutland Water. to a preview of the excellent new facilities the Heritage Lottery Fund to cover the Much interesting information has already on 30 December. costs of recording the heritage of Rutland been offered to help Water. This is a project which will involve us understand the the wider community … but I will let Sue heritage of Rutland Howlett tell you more in the first item. Water. Members of Robert Ovens the Society's Oral [email protected] History Group have idenified people who farmed in the THE HERITAGE OF RUTLAND Gwash Valley WATER before it was Members who attended the Society‘s flooded, and December meeting were told for the first photographs have time about our Local Heritage Initiative been made Project. If our bid is successful, we could available of the receive 100% funding for a project in whole area before it which we work with the community in changed for ever. finding out more about the heritage of But there is a great Rutland's most famous tourist attraction - deal we still need to find out. Simon Davies with part of the group who Rutland Water. The Society has set up a You may be able to help in many inspected the new facilities at the museum steering group which includes Edward different ways, depending on your personal Baines, Robert Ovens, Sue Howlett, Vicky interests. These could include locating and Sanderlin-McLoughlin, Audrey Buxton, copying old pictures, maps or descriptions We saw the new entrance, shop, study Hilary Crowden, Paul Reeve and Carolyn of the area; talking to local people to find room and ‗Welcome to Rutland‘ exhibition. Cartwright, but we hope that many more out how their communities were affected; The display units in this exhibition can be people will wish to become involved. or investigating the significant impact moved to the side to create a meeting room The project's aims are: Rutland Water has had on the local for up to 100 people. An Open Day, with - to investigate, document and publicise the environment, economy and sense of entertainments, demonstrations and rd heritage of Rutland Water and its identity. You can become involved as much refreshments, will be held on 3 April to surroundings or as little as you wish, but anything you celebrate the opening of this new area.

1 We hope that our first event in the new Thursday 12 Febrary, 7.30 pm at RCM Council, starts at Lyddington Church, meeting area will be on 12th February when 25 Years of Rutland Water taking in the Bishop‘s Palace, medieval Tim Appleton will talk on ‗25 Years of Tim Appleton MBE, Reserve Manager, fishponds, Snelston deserted medieval Rutland Water‘, but this is subject to the has had overall responsibility for the village, and the shores of the Eye Brooke work being completed on time. (Otherwise management of Rutland Water Nature Reservoir. Also visiting Stoke Dry Church this meeting will be in the Colonel Noel Reserve since it was created. He will talk to see medieval wall paintings and the Suite). about the changes, the successes and room said to be a meeting place of the Other planned work at the museum in the challenges over the last 25 years. Gunpowder Plotters. next few months includes refurbishment of The six mile walk is over roads, tracks the roof and surface of the Courtyard and a Thursday 11 March, 7.30 pm at RCM and foopaths, with stiles and gentle lift to the mezzanine floor in the main part Friends of Rutland County Museum gradients. Walking boots or strong shoes of the museum. AGM followed by: recommended. Booking not necessary – Rutland County Museum and Oakham just turn up on the day! RUTLAND COUNTY MUSEUM Castle: the next 10 years? EVENTS PROGRAMME 2004 Simon Davies, Museum Services Saturday 18 September, 1.00 pm at 19th March - Lazy Days in Rutland. The Manager, will share his thoughts about how RLHRS Village Visit to Langham programme includes the opportunity to play the Museum and the Castle might change in In conjunction with Langham Local traditional games such as nine mens morris and the next 10 years, and hopefully how History Group. The usual format including bar skittles, demonstrations by local craft members of both societies might be able to talks, a leaflet guided walk, and an workers, oral history and storytelling. th help with these changes. exhibition of old photographs and 20 March - Games and Crafts Day. A documents. More details later. day of craft demonstrations and hands-on activities linked to Lazy Days in Rutland. Thursday 18 March, 7.30 pm at 26th March to 9th May - Baskets and School (in The Old SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS Beyond by Joni Bamford. Joni Bamford is Schoolroom off High Street West) Rutland Record 22 has now been well known locally for her baskets and other RLHRS Bryan Matthews Lecture 2004 - published and your copy should accompany woven items made using a variety of techniques The industrialisation of a rural county: this newsletter. The indexing of Rutland and materials. industrial archaeology in Rutland Record 11-20 is now complete. It now has 3rd April - RCM Open Day. A day of Marilyn Palmer, Professor of Industrial to be designed, and following printing it entertainments, demonstrations and refreshments Archaeology at Leicester University, will will be issued free to members. to celebrate the opening of the new entrance, talk about various aspects of the Industrial Anyone who has a subject which might Welcome to Rutland exhibition and Study Area Archaeology of Rutland. form the basis of an interesting article in at the Museum. st th Rutland Record is invited to contact Tim 1 to 9 May - Oakham Market Town Thursday 20 May, 7.30 pm at RCM Clough, on 01572 722316 or at As part of the Market Towns Week the Museum Rutland Local History & Record Society [email protected] will host an exhibition charting the history and development of Oakham Market. AGM followed by: Of the several Occasional Publications 14th May to 4th July - Simply Horses by The Jack Hart Collection of Rutland waiting in the wings, Rutland Land Tax and Lucy Deane. An exhibition of Lucy Deane‘s Postcards Poll Tax of 1712 is nearest to publication. portraits of horses drawn in pastel. Robert Ovens will talk about his Layout work is virtually complete and it 9th July to 30th August - The Art of Gill exploration of the Jack Hart Collection of will soon be ready for indexing. Boyle. This exhibition includes textiles, Rutland Postcards – not just the pictures on paintings and collages with images of marine the front, but also the words on the backs. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP fish, abstract designs and landscapes. The Society‘s Environment Group takes 3rd September to 17th October - Paintings SUMMER / AUTUMN PROGRAMME a particular interest in the preservation of by Kitty and Stephen Wigmore. 2004 our rich inheritance of historical sites and Traditional portraits and landscapes by Kitty The joint RLHRS/FRCM programme buildings, mainly by monitoring Planning Wigmore and surreal cityscapes by her son group is shortly to meet to plan the events Applications and making appropriate Stephen. th st and meetings up to mid 2005. However, representations to Rutland County Council. 24 September to 31 October - some dates have been set and you might The group is also involved in judging for Langham Village Exhibition. The history like to note the following in your diaries: the George Phillips Award. of a Rutland village told in documents and old If you notice any plan or unauthorized photographs. Compiled by the Langham Local History Group and displayed in association with Saturday 12 June, 7.30 pm at Oakham action which you think will adversely affect Rutland Local History & Record Society. Castle any aspect of Rutland`s heritage, please 29th October to 20th December - RLHRS/FRCM Summer Evening Social contact me, or David Carlin on 01572 Catmose Amateur Artists Exhibition. An An informal social meeting with a buffet 722698. Anyone prepared to join the group exhibition of recent works in watercolour, pastel and background music provided by local would be most welcome. and oil by members of this group. wind quintet ‗Easterly Winds‘. More details Auriol Thomson later. [email protected] Please contact Rutland County Museum on 01572 758440 for further details of any Date to be announced (probably June). of these events. Mid-week evening visit and guided tour SOCIETY OFFICE & LIBRARY of Drayton House, Oundle, Northants. Since the last Newsletter, Peter Tomalin, RLHRS / FRCM MEETINGS Organised by Alan Curtis. More details David Carlin and Sue Howlett have been SPRING PROGRAMME 2004 later. cataloguing the books, leaflets and notes in the Society library. This collection is Please note that our meetings at the Saturday 11 September located in the Prince Yuri Galitzine Room museum will now be in the new Welcome Guided Historical Walk - Bonfires, at Rutland County Museum. to Rutland area, and that members Bombs and Bishops in Rutland The latest acquisition is a beautiful should use the new entrance off South Meet at 2.00pm, Lyddington Church. leather bound copy of the early Uppingham Street car park. It may, however, be Leaders Robert Ovens & Sheila Sleath. Churchwardens‘ Accounts. This was partly necessary to use the smaller Colonel Noel This circular walk, in conjunction with the funded by the sale of a four-volume Suite for the first meeting. Leicestershire & Rutland Rural Community transcription of the registers of

2 Sedborough, Cumbria, which were amongst MEETING REPORTS The second visit was to the 17th century the collection donated by Prince Yuri Rutland Wall Paintings cottage at 3 Main Street, Preston. Here, Galitzine. Wall paintings at Tolethorpe Hall early wall paintings had been discovered in The Society would like to thank Peter a bedroom. The Society paid for the Lane who is donating a complete set of the preservation of these in 2001 on the reports prepared by Uppingham Local understanding that they could be inspected History Group (not to be confused with the on occasion by interested groups. more recently formed Uppingham Local Further visits to these two sites by groups History Study Group). ULHG was formed of six to eight people can be arranged. in the mid-1970s when active members Please contact Sue Howlett at included Peter, Betty Finch, Mary and [email protected] if you are David Parkin, and others. The group‘s interested. objective was to study the court rolls of the two Uppingham manors. The information Music at the Castle – 30 August 2003 uncovered provided material for the The Society‘s Summer Social event on preparation of histories of a number of 30 August, in conjunction with the Friends properties in the town. Over 20 reports of RCM, was an evening of historical have so far been prepared and the list of music and song at Oakham Castle. The titles includes, for example, Stocks of entertainment was provided by Terry and Uppingham, James Smith’s Messuage, The Florence Warrington, known as Congregational Church and Manse, Stone ‗Chantrelle‘, who sang to the Cottage, Seacy Villa, Peppers Mill, and accompaniment of musical instruments Notes on the History of Uppingham (Canon dating from the 14th century to modern. Aldred & Rev E A Irons). These included the plucked psaltery, Access to the library is restricted to hammered dulcimer, pipe and taber, Society members and all publications are crumhorne, cittern, hurdy gurdy, bowed for reference only. The library continues to psaltery, guitar and ukelele, all made by be open most Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm, Terry. Music and songs included Chanson when one of the committee members de Mai, When Cannons are Roaring, should be present. However, it is essential Calling Me, Little Stick of Blackpool Rock, that you contact Sue Howlett at and Proper Cup of Coffee. [email protected] before making a On 15th October seven members, The history and construction of each visit to establish the latest position. accompanied by Elizabeth Bryan, RCC instrument was described by Terry before Additional shelving has recently been Conservation Officer, visited two Rutland being played, and during the interval acquired to accommodate the ever- properties where wall paintings have been members and guests were encouraged to increasing library, and Dr Ian Ryder has discovered as a result of building inspect the instruments and ‗have a go‘. donated a secondhand Windows 98 refurbishment. The first was at Tolethorpe computer. This is now used to maintain the Hall where an arch from the original Royal Leighfield Forest – 6 September Society‘s member database, print mailing medieval manor house was discovered Thirty members of the Society and guests labels and to produce the various mailers behind a Victorian stud wall. Also revealed assembled at Belton Church, to take part in which are sent out to publicise events. was a wall decorated in ochre with an a guided walk through what was once the Until recently the member database was arcaded design. It is evident that the arch Royal Leighfield Forest. Before setting off, maintained by Sue Curtis on a Museum had been filled in and plastered over before leaders Robert Ovens and Sheila Sleath computer, and this seems a good the wall painting had been applied. outlined a little of the history of the Royal opportunity to thank her for performing this Forest, which up to the 12th duty for so many years. century was the Leicestershire and Rutland Forest. It covered RLHRS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE most of the southern half of the Nick Pearce-Smith has recently been co- modern county along with a opted on to the Executive Committee as a narrow strip of eastern Committee Member. Nick is working as Leicestershire. Museum Assistant at RCM and he will The Royal Forest of provide the essential link between the Leighfield was created by Henry Society and the museum which has been I who wanted it for the hunting, missing since Tim Clough‘s retirement. and strict laws, known as Forest The full membership of the committee is Laws were applied. These were now as follows: aimed at the preservation of President: Edward Baines wild life and the promotion of Chairman: Robert Ovens hunting. By this time the forest Vice Chairman: Alan Rogers had shrunk considerably to an Secretary: Sue Howlett area between Braunston and Treasurer: Ian Ryder Editor: Tim Clough Caldecott, and Launde and Membership Secretary: Enid Clinton Lyddington. It consisted of both Archivist: Carl Harrison woodland and cultivated areas. Editorial Adviser: Robin Jenkins The walk included Leigh Committee: Audrey Buxton, Elizabeth Bryan, Lodge and Ridlington, and took David Carlin, Hilary Crowden, Alan Curtis, place in fine sunny weather, Peter Diplock, Christine Hill, Nick Pearce-Smith, Wall paintings at 3 Main Street, Preston apart from a 20 minute thunder storm about Vicky Sanderlin-McLoughlin, Auriol Thomson, half way round. The views were Mike Tillbrook. exceptional, especially along the Ridlington

Ridge from where it was possible to see

3 both the Eye Brooke Reservoir and Rutland John Thomas of ULAS directed the The line was built between 1875 and Water. 1879 by the Midland Railway. In fewer One point of interest was a bridge over than 16 miles it has high embankments and the River Chater that had been built by deep cuttings, four tunnels and five German prisoners of war. They had carved viaducts, including the Welland Viaduct, at their names on the side of a parapet and 1,250 yards the longest on Britain‘s railway these are still visible. system. The route back to Belton passed near to The book is available in local book shops Park Farm, the site of the former Ridlington or direct from Silverlink, the publishers. Park, an enclosed medieval hunting park belonging to the lord of the manor. A Taste of Melton - 13 November In this talk, Jenny Dancey, Keeper of the Glaston Village Visit – 20 September Melton Carnegie Museum, gave an The annual ‗Village Visit‘ meeting was illustrated overview of two of Melton based on Glaston Village Hall where 90 Mowbray‘s famous culinary products — members, guests and local residents Stilton cheese and pork pies. enjoyed an afternoon of village history The Domesday Book records a market at under the chairmanship of Audrey Buxton. Melton Mowbray with ‗food on the hoof‘. The first speaker was Auriol Daniel Defoe in 1727 mistakenly attributed Thomson,who concentrated on the unique Stilton cheese to Stilton (Cambridgeshire), information contained within diary of but the landlord of the Bell Inn had church and village events started by Rev obtained the cheese from a farm near Christopher Wordsworth in 1889. She also Melton Mowbray. No one knows the discussed the location of Glaston at the origins of the cheese which uses blue crossroads of an ancient east / west mould spores to form the blue veins. For ridgeway which became a turnpike, now over 450 years the Melton Town Estate the A47, and the main north / south route archaeological excavations at Glaston. The promoted Melton‘s foodstuffs until 1913 from Nottingham to which passed model racing car was found amongst the when the cheese market closed. The through Oakham, Glaston, Harringworth 35,000 year-old bones tradition of pork pies and stilton on and St Neots. This route became redundant Christmas morning was promoted by the when the turnpike through Uppingham to The final talk of the day was by John Melton Hunt aristocracy. They encouraged Oakham was constructed. Thomas of University of Leicester the distribution of both commodities Archaeological Services. He throughout the country. was director of the Glaston By 1913, the farmhouse manufacture of excavation in 2000 during Stilton cheese had been replaced with which woolly rhinoceros, factory produced cheese. The Stilton spotted hyena, reindeer, and Cheesemakers Association founded in 1936 wolverine bones were insures the quality of the cheese which is discovered. These were produced only in Derbyshire, from a period 35,000 years Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. ago when Glaston was a Jenny linked Stilton cheese and pork pies sandy desert. The by noting that 80% of the milk used to excavation was the subject produce cheese becomes whey — a food of many newspaper stories source for pigs. Traditionally, pork pies and over 600 people visited were a transportable food source which the site on the two public were sold when there wasn‘t an ―R‖ in the open days. John‘s talk month. Traditional handmade pork pie are covered the story of the irregular in appearance because they are investigation which resulted made without a supporting hoop. The Grange House, Glaston in the discovery of these important finds. pastry was made from pig‘s lard and filled The afternoon was rounded off by with seasoned loin of lean pork. There is In the second talk Sue Lee talked about Edward Baines who thanked all those who only one traditional pork pie producer the history of Glaston House which was had organised the event, and in particular remaining in Melton Mowbray. rebuilt by the widowed Lady Victoria the local residents who had provided Following the presentation members Carbery in the 1890s, and which was her refreshments. enjoyed sampling varieties of Stilton home until she died in 1932. Sue also spoke cheese and traditional pork pies. about her own home, Grange House, which The Building of the Kettering to Manton was rebuilt in 1706. Although originally a Railway - 9 October The George Phillips Award – 11 farmhouse, it was at some time a public Ann Paul is the author of the book 3000 December house known as the Swan, or White Swan. Strangers: The Building of the Kettering to The first part of this meeting at Rutland At one time it was owned by the Ancaster Manton Railway which was launched at County Museum, chaired by Edward Estate. Gretton Village Hall on 20 July 2003. An Baines, was the presentation of the George During the interval, members and guests audience of nearly 80 assembled in the Phillips Awards. These awards are took part in a leaflet guided historical walk Riding School at Rutland County Museum sponsored jointly by the Society and round the village, in which they were able to hear talk about the research she carried Rutland County Council. First place is to see most of the locations mentioned by out on the building of this railway and the awarded to the property considered by a the first two speakers. They were also able lives and characters of the navvies who panel of judges to be the most significant to view a ‗then and now‘ exhibition of worked on it. They lived in hutted contribution towards preserving the built village photographs and documents. Many settlements along the line, the largest being environment in Rutland. of the photographs were taken from near Seaton and known at ‗Cyprus‘. postcards dated between 1900 and 1925.

4 she had brought along mentally ill during the late Georgian and maps; pottery sherds, Victorian periods. The Leicestershire and tiles, flints and clay pipes Rutland Lunatic Asylum (now the for examination by administrative building of the University of members. Leicester) was built to house county A geophysical survey paupers. Many of these came from the by University of workhouses at Oakham and Uppingham. Leicester Archaeological Edward pointed out that records show that Services was also carried Rutland had a higher rate of insanity than out on the site to identify the industrial areas of the North and West remaining foundations of – an interesting discrepancy! and earthworks. A particularly exciting Heritage of Rutland Water development was the Vicky Sanderlin-McLoughlin gave a location of a 5 metres brief introduction to the Society‘s proposed square mosaic which had Local Heritage Initiative Lottery bid to been removed from the fund a community heritage project. Further The Maltings, Ketton, winner of the George site in the 1960‘s. It is now in the Corus details about the project will be available at Phillips Awards offices, Corby, and there is a possibility a public meeting on Friday 6th February at that it will be transferred to Rutland County 6pm in Oakham Castle. See also the item Rob Toye outlined the merits of each of Museum. on page 1. the nominated sites and Richard Adams Kate and her team have recently won the presented the awards. Miss Linford Award for the best amateur Historic Horseshoes – 8 January The winner was The Maltings, Ketton, an archaeological project in the area. Oakham Castle was innovative residential conversion by the venue for the January Stamford Homes. Highly commended were King John meeting. In A Guide to Jubilee Barn, Empingham (Mr T Ellison) Alan Curtis‘ historical research the Historic Horseshoes and The Dovecote, The Grange, Geeston has centered on the medieval Tim Clough entertained (Mr and Mrs Winter). The refurbishment of period. In the late 1350‘s the Lord a group of over 40 Former aircraft hangers at St George‘s Mayor of London entertained four members with a detailed Barracks, North Luffenham was a very kings: Edward II of England; presentation and guided different type of project and this was David of Scotland; John II of tour of the unique commended. France and the King of Cyprus. collection. He outlined John II spent several the history of the years of captivity in tradition that any peer of England whilst the the realm passing French amassed the necessary through Oakham should present a ransom money. Rutland‘s horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor. connection to the four kings stems from King John‘s ‗tour‘ of England in 1356.

Burley on the Hill Anne Blandamer gave a summary of her research into the house rebuilt between 1620 and 1628 at Burley on the Hill by George Villiers, Duke of Richard Adams (left) with Bill Maynard of Buckingham. The purpose of the Stamford Homes house was to entertain King James I and members of the court. The scale A brief reception, to acknowledge the was lavish and records indicate that achievements of the entrants, was hosted by at one entertainment 900 guests were Rutland County Council in the Colonel feed, with 200 of them seated in the Noel Suite at the Museum. This was hall itself. The gardens were organized by Jo and Peter Diplock. focused on hunting and other sports and included a bowling green and Work in Progress water features. The Duke of The second part of the evening consisted Buckingham, who had married a of a series of short presentations by daughter of the Earl of Rutland, was members of the Society and the Friends of assassinated in 1628 and in the RCM, each introducing some aspect of English Civil War the house was their recent research. torched by the Parliamentarians.

Thistleton Roman site Insanity in Rutland Tim Clough in the dock at Oakham Kate Don talked about her archaeological As a clinical psychologist, Edward Miller Castle. Doesn’t seem too worried about it! work at the Thistleton Roman site. is interested in ‗Madness in Rutland‘ and Fieldwalking, involving both experts and his talk focused on the treatment of the Today, these horseshoes are displayed in novices, has yielded over 4000 finds, and The Great Hall, a superb example of

5 Norman domestic architecture. The oldest memories of growing up in Belton and 410 A.D. to the present day, as well as an horseshoe was erected by command of attending the village school from around excellent training in research techniques. Edward IV in about 1470. Tim explained 1915 onwards. Some of these conversations The course lasts for one year full time or, that lists provided by Speed (1610) and have been published in the Society‘s with less pressure, two years part time. Wright (1684) have helped to identify Journal and have revealed a fascinating side Teaching is by weekly classes (morning or misread, missing and lost horseshoes. of village life over nearly a century. evening as preferred) supplemented by Reigning monarchs, including Elizabeth The Research Group members have so occasional Saturday schools and a II, have given horseshoes, and those from far worked on projects as individuals rather weeklong field course in the spring. local families figure prominently. The than collectively. Nevertheless, articles in Several Society members have obtained Cecils, Marquises of Exeter, of Brughley the two published journals have included or are working for the M.A. and would be House, Stamford and the Noels, Earls of subjects as diverse as the Belton Enclosure happy to tell you more (For example, Gainsborough have given the most. The Award; Childhood in Belton; Discoveries contact Auriol or David Thomson 01572 horseshoes, which vary in style, materials in our Walls; the seventeenth century 823339, or Peter Diplock on 01572 and production methods, were cleaned, origins of College Farm, Leighfield; the 724629) restored and rearranged in family groups in bombing of Belton; The Tenants of College Brochures are available at Rutland 1980 to celebrate the castle‘s 800th Farm; Memories of Belton School 1946- County Museum, local libraries or contact: anniversary. The most recent horseshoe 1952 and ‗Nuisances in Belton‘ (the effect The Centre for English Local History, was donated by the Prince of Wales in of The Sanitary Act of 1870). University of Leicester, 5 Salisbury Road, 2003. The Society is building an archive of old Leicester LE1 7QR. Telephone 0116 Tim urged members to visit the castle at village photographs which are being 2522762. their leisure to view the horseshoes in more recorded and stored electronically. It has Email [email protected] detail. His two books, The Horseshoes of also produced calendars of early scenes and Website www.le.ac.uk/elh/ Oakham Castle and Oakham Castle: A celebrations within the village. Guide and History, both available at the In addition to its own meetings the THE BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS castle and the museum, would be a very Society regularly invites speakers to give 16 JUNE 1815 useful accompaniment on such a visit. talks on local history topics to which non- The battle was between an Allied army members are also warmly invited. under the command of the Duke of OTHER LOCAL HISTORY GROUPS The Society welcomes new members of Wellington and the French army under Rutland Village Studies Group all ages who have an interest in Belton and Marshal Ney. This is the subject of Mike Members of this informal group, all its history. Robinson‘s book which is to be published engaged on studying different aspects of Contact Ian Broughton, chairman, on later this year. local history in and around Rutland, meet 01572 717611 for details of the current He is seeking sources of documentary from time to time at the Falcon Hotel, programme, to obtain copies of the material, photographs, paintings or other Uppingham, to share information and ideas Society‘s journals, or to join the society. artefacts relating to people who served in and to explore some relevant sources the Waterloo campaign. Appeals such as relating to the area. ENGLISH LOCAL HISTORY AT THE this have been very successful in other The group is currently exploring the UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER areas of the country and now he is turning possibility of transcribing and publishing Would you like to learn more about his attention to Rutland. the notes made by Archdeacon Irons. He English History at the local level but feel If you can help, please contact him by was Rector of North Luffenham from 1900 you lack the necessary historical phone (01636 610918), email to 1923 and his ‗Notes‘ record 16th and 17th background and/or the skills to undertake ([email protected]) or letter (30 century happenings and disputes in Rutland research? Brewer‘s Wharf, Newark on Trent, Notts. villages. Most of the notes are from The M.A. course at Leicester will provide NG24 1ET). Archdeacons‘ visitations and other you with a thorough grounding in the diocesan records. They mention many history of the English regions (with individuals involved in allegations of moral relevant comparisons between cultures, misconduct, tithe disputes and other societies and historical landscapes) from c. breaches of Church Law. Some of this information was used in VCH, Rutland (1932), but most has never been published. The notes were donated to the University of Leicester library by Irons' daughter. Contact Hilary Crowden on 01572 823986 to join this informal group.

Belton in Rutland History Society The Society was formed in March 2001 and currently has 27 members, including a number from outside the village. One of the long-term aims of the Society is to create a comprehensive history of the village and parish of Belton in Rutland and neighbouring areas. To help achieve that aim the Society has formed two sub- groups: an Oral Group and a Research Group. Members can join in the activities of either or both groups, according to their particular interests. The Oral Group has already recorded conversations with many older villagers on various aspects of village life such as:

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