Braunston-in-Rutland

Braunston-in-Rutland is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. The population of the civil parish was 392 at the 2001 census, including Brooke and increasing to 502 at the 2011 census.[3] Leicestershire lies on the parish's western boundary

Braunston-in-Rutland

All Saints' Church
Braunston-in-Rutland
Location within Rutland
Area2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2) [1]
Population392 2001 Census[2]
• Density157/sq mi (61/km2)
OS grid referenceSK834069
• London84 miles (135 km) SSE
Unitary authority
Shire county
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townOAKHAM
Postcode districtLE15
Dialling code01572
PoliceLeicestershire
FireLeicestershire
AmbulanceEast Midlands
UK Parliament

Braunston is located roughly three miles (4.8 km) south-west of the county town of Oakham. The River Gwash flows through the village.

The village retains two public houses, The Old Plough, and the 17th-century Blue Ball Inn. The parish church, which has a circular churchyard, is dedicated to All Saints.

The Braunston "Goddess"
The enigmatic "goddess"

A sculpted stone stands in the churchyard, at the west end of the church, close to the tower. Known as the Braunston "Goddess", it was found in about 1920 when the church doorstep needed to be replaced. When the slab was lifted the carving was revealed on the underside. There has been considerable speculation as to its age and meaning, and its original position as part of the church building, or whether it may even predate the church. It is clearly not a gargoyle as it has no drainage channel. It may have had an apotropaic purpose. It has facial and stylistic similarities with some Irish Sheela na Gigs, but it has no genitalia.

All Saints Church

References
  1. "A vision of Britain through time". University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  2. "Rutland Civil Parish Populations" (PDF). Rutland County Council. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  3. "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 24 June 2016.


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