Empingham

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Empingham
Rutland
The White Horse, Empingham - geograph.org.uk - 456705.jpg
The White Horse
Location
Grid reference: SK949085
Location: 52°39’59"N, 0°35’47"W
Data
Population: 815  (2001[1])
Post town: Oakham
Postcode: LE15
Dialling code: 01780
Local Government
Council: Rutland
Parliamentary
constituency:
Rutland and Melton

Empingham is a village and parish in the county of Rutland. The population of the civil parish was 815 at the 2001 census including Horn, increasing to 880 at the 2011 census.[2] It lies close to the dam of Rutland Water and the A606 road runs through the village.

During construction, Rutland Water was known as Empingham Reservoir, but it was renamed to preserve the name of the county which was seeing its local council abolished.

The fine church of St Peter was a Peculiar of the see of Lincoln. When the diocese of Peterborough was created, this church remained tied to Lincoln Cathedral and the title of a Prebend there.

To the north-east on the Great North Road (A1) the Battle of Empingham was fought in 1470 as part of the Wars of the Roses. The battle is also known as Battle of Losecoat Field (or Losecote Field), supposedly because the defeated Lancastrians, when fleeing, threw off the distinguishing clothing. However the name probably predates the battle and means pigsty field. Forms of Losecote also appear as field names in other parishes in Rutland. Contemporary accounts refer to the battle site as Hornfield. An adjacent woodland is now called Bloody Oaks.

References

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