The small county town of Oakham Rutland lays just to the west of Rutland Water, one of the largest man-made lakes in Europe. Dating back to the 12th century Oakham is considered one of Rutland County's main towns. Oakham is actually fairly new to the Rutland area, as it was once part of Leicestershire County until 1974.
Being a small town of only around 10,000 people Oakham still has several landmarks and tourist attractions for visitors to see. The All Saints Church is one such stop. Built during the fourteenth century this impressive church is the parish Church of England in the Oakham area. Originally built in the Gothic style the building is still mainly gothic with some Victorian restorations. Many of the interior columns feature carvings of animals, birds, and foliage scenes (including some with Adam and Eve). Visitors can also see carvings of the Annunciation and Coronation of the Virgin Mary. This beautiful church is a popular stop for visitors.
Another popular stop for visitors is the Oakham Castle, or what is left of it. Today all that is left of the ancient Norman castle is the great hall. Dating back to around 1180it is believed to be the earliest hall of any English castle surviving so completely. Until 1970 the hall was used as an Assize court, today it is stilled used occasionally used as a Crown Court or Coroner's Court and can be used for weddings. An interesting feature of the Oakham Castle is the display of horseshoes. It was once a custom for royalty and their peers that visiting the Oakham area to pay a forfeit of a horseshoe. After over 500 years, there are over 200 ceremonial horseshoes decorating the walls.
Visitors can enjoy learning about Rutland County by checking out the Rutland County Museum and Visitor Center. The museum is home to an extensive rural life collection such as farm tools, tractors, wagons and other tradesmen's tools. There are also many different displays of domestic and social history of the area. There is also a large collection of archaeological material that was found in the Rutland County area.
Oakham is located near the largest man-made lake in Europe, Rutland Water. Built in 1970 as a way to supply water to the East Midlands it is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe. The 3,100 acre reservoir is now a hot spot for visitors to head for fun in sport and leisure. Visitors can canoe, windsurf or rock-climb. It is also a great place to see some interesting wildlife, as Rutland Water is home to wildlife conservation.
Oakham has many different spots for visitors to enjoy.
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