Ketton is a village and civil parish in Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is about 8 miles (13 km) east of Oakham and 3 miles (5 km) west of Stamford, Lincolnshire. The 2011 Census recorded a parish population of 1,926,[2] making it the fourth largest settlement in Rutland, after Oakham, Uppingham and Cottesmore. The village has a primary school.

Ketton
Ketton is located in Rutland
Ketton
Ketton
Location within Rutland
Area5.22 sq mi (13.5 km2[1]
Population1,926 2011 Census
• Density369/sq mi (142/km2)
OS grid referenceSK981047
• London80 miles (130 km) SSE
Civil parish
  • Ketton
Unitary authority
Shire county
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townStamford
Postcode districtPE9
Dialling code01780
PoliceLeicestershire
FireLeicestershire
AmbulanceEast Midlands
UK Parliament
WebsiteKetton Parish Council
List of places
UK
England
Rutland
52°37′52″N 0°33′07″W / 52.631°N 0.552°W / 52.631; -0.552

Ketton gave its name to the Ketton Rural District of Rutland which existed from 1894 to 1974. Ketton ward, which also includes the parishes of Barrowden, Tinwell and Tixover has two councillors on Rutland County Council.

Village edit

The village's name origin is dubious. Maybe, 'river of Ceta', with the subsequent component later remodelled as the Old English 'tun'. Otherwise, this is potentially an old name for the River Chater or the Old English tribal name, 'Cetan'.[3]

It was originally three separate settlements: Ketton, Aldgate and Geeston; but as they grew they merged to form the village that Ketton is today.

The village has a post office and general store, a library, two pubs (the Railway Inn and the Northwick Arms), a sports centre, a playschool and a Church of England primary school which in 2021/2022 had 185 pupils on its roll.[4][5]

The village has two churches (Church of England and Methodist). The earliest parts of St Mary's Church, the grade I listed[6] Church of England parish church, are 12th century. The church has a central tower and spire. The west front is an example of late 12th century transitional architecture and the remainder of the church is mainly 13th century. The nave was restored under the direction of George Gilbert Scott in 1861–62 and the chancel under the direction of his pupil Thomas Graham Jackson in 1863–66. Jackson's chancel roof was painted by Ninian Comper in 1950. The stone is from Barnack. There are Ketton headstones in the churchyard; one by the lychgate depicts mason's tools and is by stonemason William Hibbins of Ketton. William Hibbins built Hibbins House, which is still standing today. The spire is 144 feet (44 metres) high.[7] The Methodist chapel was refurbished in 2013 but dates back some 150 years.[8][9]

Robert of Ketton was the first person to translate the Qur'an into Latin. The translation was complete by 1143.

Ketton stone and cement edit

 
Ketton Quarry

The village gives its name to Ketton stone, a limestone which is quarried locally and is used in many buildings in the village and elsewhere. Some areas of former quarrying, Ketton Quarries, are now a Site of Special Scientific Interest, maintained by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

The limestone is used to make cement. Ketton Cement Works opened in 1928 and by November that year the number of staff had risen to 250. The plant, owned by Hanson Cement (now part of HeidelbergCement), meets more than 10% of the UK demand for cement.

In 2013 Rutland County Council approved plans for Lark Energy to build a solar farm on land reclaimed from a 1940s quarry. The solar farm provides 13% of the cement work's annual energy consumption. The second phase was opened in 2015 by Secretary of State for Energy Amber Rudd.[10]

Wind energy in Ketton edit

In 2004 Rutland County Council planning committee resolved to approve a planning application for one wind turbine on land adjacent to the cement works off Steadfold Lane in Ketton. However, issues surrounding fast jets flying from RAF Cottesmore meant that a planning permission was never granted.

In 2011 REG Windpower announced plans to install two wind turbines near Steadfold Lane. The proposal was withdrawn in August 2012.[11]

Transport edit

Ketton is served by buses on the service between Stamford and Uppingham.[12] Ketton and Collyweston railway station closed in 1966.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "A vision of Britain through time". University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Rutland Civil Parish Populations" (PDF). Rutland County Council. 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Key to English Place-names".
  4. ^ "Home page". Ketton C of E Primary School. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Ketton Church of England Primary School: Absence and pupil population". gov.uk. Ofsted. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1073856)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  7. ^ Flannery, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. New York City, New York, United States: Thames and Hudson. pp. 152–159. ISBN 978-0-500-34314-2.
  8. ^ "Ketton Methodist Church". Stamford Methodist Circuit. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Useful Links – Ketton Village". Retrieved 28 August 2023. ... part of village life for over 150 years
  10. ^ "Video: Secretary of state for energy opens Ketton solar farm". www.stamfordmercury.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Plans to build two wind turbines near Ketton are withdrawn". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. Johnston Press. 9 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Local Bus Services". Rutland County Council. 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Town and Village Appraisals - Update 2013 Ketton" (PDF). Rutland County Council. 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2015.

Further reading edit

External links edit