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“The George of Stamford would be a welcome stop for any weary Great North Road travellers...”
E is for Empingham. Empingham is one of the many pretty villages dotted around Rutland. It lies close to Rutland Water. During construction, Rutland Water was originally know as Empingham Reservoir but it was renamed to preserve the name of the county as it merged with Leicestershire. The Battle of Empingham was fought in 1470 as part of the Wars of the Roses. F is for Fly Fishing. The sport is prolific around these parts! It’s an angling method in which an artificial fly is used to catch fish. Casting a nearly weightless fly requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. G is for George. The exact age of The George of Stamford is unknown, but it’s likely to have existed in some form for over 1,000 years. The Great North Road was a popular highway for centuries, used by the Ancient Britons, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Normans. The venue provided a break from the long and weary travel south/north. H is for Horseshoes. It remains a unique tradition that peers of the realm should forfeit a horse shoe to the Lord of the Manor of Oakham on their first visit. 230 shoes now decorate the walls of Oakham Castle.
Above: The stones of Stamford are certainly a highlight. Right: Tolethorpe Hall hosts Shakespeare productions (usually). Opposite: U is for Uppingham!
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