Curiosities of Rutland

England's Smallest County has lots of Quite Interesting facts...

Stephen Fry was a student at Uppingham School (and was expelled!) so in the vain of his popular show, QI,  we're going to tell you some quite interesting facts about Rutland....

Rutland was actually mentioned on QI when Stephen told viewers that we were only the smallest county in England when the tide was out on the Isle of Wight. This is not quite accurate, for reasons that get compex, so we'll just leave it that Rutland is Englands smallest county!

          > Rutland was reinstated as a county in 1997 after being absorbed into Leicestershire in 1974.

          > Rutland Water is the UK's largest man made lake, similar size to Lake Windermere in the Lake District

          > Rutland is the only county not to have a 'McDonalds' fast food chain

          > Rutland is the only county not to have a static speed camera on its roads

          > Rutland residents are known as 'Raddlemen'

          > Peers of the realm who pass through Oakham for their first time must give a horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor, this unique custom started over 500 years ago and still continues today. Over 200 horseshoes are displayed in Oakham Castle (which is actually a Great Hall), the oldest surviving horseshoe is said to have been given by Edward IV in about 1470.

          > In Rutland, all horseshoes are hung with their tips at the bottom, which some people consider to be upsidedown and bad luck. The reason for hanging them this way is so that the devil cannot make a nest in the bottom of the horseshoe.

          > Oakham castle is the oldest English court building that has remained in continuous use, with trials taking place there as early as 1229.

          > In the 17th Century, Rutland was home to Englands smallest man, Jeffrey Hudson, who was 18 inches tall and presented to Queen Henrietta Maria in a pie and lead an amazing life.

          > Rutland has a latin motto: Multum in Parvo, which means Much in Little

          > There is a Duke and Duchess of Rutland who reside in Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire

          > Rutland hosts a World Championship of Nurdling usually every late May Bank Holiday. Nurdling dates back to the middle ages, competitors throw old pennies on to a drilled hole in a wooden seat. This takes place at The Jackson Stops in Stretton and the winner is known as the 'Best Tosser' **the 2012 Nurdling Championship will be on Saturday May 26th

          > Oakham is the finishing point for The Viking Way, a 147 mile footpath which starts near the Humber Bridge in North Lincolnshire. Click here for more details about this route. 

           > The Grainstore Brewery in Oakham holds the National Leg Wrestling Championships during their Cider & Sausage Festival in the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

If you know any interesting facts about Rutland, please let us know at tourism@rutland.gov.uk