Barrowden

Civil Parish in Rutland

England

Barrowden

Barrowden is a civil parish located in the county of Rutland, England. It is a small and picturesque village situated approximately 8 miles east of Oakham, the county town. With a population of around 600 residents, Barrowden retains a close-knit and friendly community atmosphere.

The village is rich in history and boasts several historical buildings that date back to the medieval period. The centerpiece of Barrowden is the All Saints Church, which stands proudly at the heart of the village. This beautiful church features stunning stained glass windows and a tall spire that can be seen from miles around.

Barrowden is surrounded by stunning countryside, with rolling hills and scenic views in every direction. The village is located close to Eyebrook Reservoir, a popular spot for fishing and birdwatching. The surrounding area offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and horse riding.

The community in Barrowden is vibrant and active, with various clubs and societies catering to different interests. The village organizes regular events and activities, including a summer fete, art exhibitions, and a Christmas market.

Despite its small size, Barrowden is well-served by amenities. The village has a primary school, a village shop, a pub, and a post office, providing essential services for its residents. For further amenities, the nearby towns of Oakham and Uppingham offer a wider range of shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities.

Overall, Barrowden is a charming and idyllic village that offers a peaceful rural lifestyle while still providing access to essential amenities and a strong sense of community.

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Barrowden Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.591115/-0.608133 or Grid Reference SK9400. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The churchyard, Barrowden

Looking across the Welland valley. The bridge across the river on the former railway visible in the centre of the picture.

Jonathan Thacker

Wakerley, St John the Baptist

Dave Kelly

Wakerley Bridge

This is one of the ancient bridges across the Welland, and the river marks the boundary between Rutland and Northamptonshire, Barrowden being in Rutland, and Wakerley in Northamptonshire. The bridge dates from the 14th century, and was widened to its present width in 1793. (Civil Engineering Heritage: Eastern & Central England 1994, E. A. Labrum, SBN 07277 1970 X) This is a scheduled ancient monument (see Link

). Half of it is a grade II listed building. The listing at Link

is titled "Bridge (That Part In Barrowden C Parish), Wakerley Road"

Bob Harvey

Bridge over the Welland

The bridge is described in Civil Engineering Heritage: Eastern & Central England, E. A. Labrum, 1994 where it says "A five-arch stone bridge carrying a minor road, typical of such bridges from the 14th century. Since the bridge's widening in 1793, the arch shapes are different on the upstream side from those on the downstream side. The original arches are the downstream ones — pointed, with chamfered arch rings. Upstream they are segmental. The spans vary from 9ft 10in to 11ft 4in. The piers are 6ft wide and the bridge is 81ft long. The 1793 work added 2ft to the bridge's width to make the present dimension of 12ft between the stone parapets. There are cutwaters on both sides and a carved head on the keystone of the second arch from the north end." This is a scheduled ancient monument (see Link

) although the listing there lacks anything like the detail quoted above.

Bob Harvey

The River Welland

The river seen from the parapet of SP9599 : Wakerley Bridge. The Welland is the county boundary, so we have Rutland on the left and Northamptonshire on the right.

Bob Harvey

The river from the bridge

The view from the parapet of SP9599 : Wakerley Bridge. The Welland is the county boundary, so we have Northamptonshire on the left and Rutland on the right.

Bob Harvey

A bit of a struggle

I had to climb over this stile to take the image in SP9599 : Bridge over the Welland. I must be getting old, but it was rather a stretch. This is an essential obstacle on the path called the Rutland Round. There is a cunning lift-gate on the right to allow dogs through.

Bob Harvey

A field in Rutland

The long distance path called the Rutland Round passes through this field.

Bob Harvey

A scheduled ancient monument

Between Barrowden and Wakerley is one of the ancient bridges across the Welland, recently restored by Jason "the mason" Henfrey who said “The work also included the creation of special hides for bats which have been cut into the back of new stone before being placed into the bridge. These hides replace gaps, now repaired, which bats had made their home. The new bat hides have been marked with a stone masonry mark resembling a bat.” Although the river marks the boundary with Northamptonshire, Rutland county council assumes responsibility for the bridge and carried out the recent restoration. This is a scheduled ancient monument (see Link

). Half of it is a grade II listed building. The listing at Link

is titled "Bridge (That Part In Barrowden C Parish), Wakerley Road"

Bob Harvey

Railway station site

The site of SP9599 : Wakerley and Barrowden Station seen from the parapet of SP9599 : Wakerley Bridge, Barrowden Road, Wakerley.

Bob Harvey

St Peter's church, Barrowden

A fien medieval church with a fourteenth century tower and spire Link

Jonathan Thacker

Churchyard and barn, Barrowden

The barn is listed Link

Jonathan Thacker

Churchyard and barn, Barrowden

The barn is listed Link

Jonathan Thacker

Church Farmhouse, Barrowden

Largely of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Link

Jonathan Thacker

Carey's House, Barrowden

Largely of 1834 Link

Jonathan Thacker

Grass field, Barrowden

Jonathan Thacker

Long track heading north-west toward the Welland Valley

Leaving the tracks of the Spanhoe airfield, this long farm track heads north-west toward the Harringworth-Wakerley road

Tim Heaton

Four structures in the Welland Valley, west of Wakerley

These curious structures, situated next to the line of an old railway track immediately west of Wakerley, are the remains of calcining kilns at the short-lived Wakerley iron ore quarries, which were active only from 1916-21 as the ore was of a lower quality than had been hoped. The village website assumed a connection with the steel industry at Corby: Link

. However, there was no direct rail link to Corby, and according to the industrial historian E S Tonks, Wakerley quarry was owned by the Partington Iron & Steel Co, the ore going to its Irlam Steel Works in Manchester. Calcining at the quarry reduced the volume of the ore and made it cheaper to transport. (Thanks to John Sutton and Katy Walters for providing this information).

Tim Heaton

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Barrowden is located at Grid Ref: SK9400 (Lat: 52.591115, Lng: -0.608133)

Unitary Authority: Rutland

Police Authority: Leicestershire