Rutland Postcodes — England (ENG)

Rutland

Located in the heart of England's East Midlands, Rutland is both a ceremonial county and a unitary authority. Leicestershire lies to its west and north, Lincolnshire to its northeast, and Northamptonshire to its southeast.

Only 18 miles (29 km) in length from north to south, and 17 miles (27 km) in width from east to west are its maximum dimensions. It ranks as the UK's fourth-smallest historic county and the smallest in England. As a result, in 1950, the county council chose the Latin motto Multum in Parvo, which means "much in little." Compared to other conventional unitary authorities in England, it has the smallest population. The Isle of Wight, the City of London, and the City of Bristol are the three smallest contemporary ceremonial counties. Also smaller in size was the county of London, which existed from 1889 until 1965. From a population standpoint, it ranks a lowly 323rd out of 326 boroughs.

Oakham, the county town, and Uppingham are the only two incorporated towns in Rutland. Rutland Water, a vast manmade reservoir in the county's middle, is a significant nature reserve that provides a safe haven for migrating wildfowl and a breeding ground for ospreys.

Older cottages in Rutland are often constructed of limestone or ironstone, and their roofs are typically made of Collyweston stone slate or thatch.

Geography of Rutland

The Rutland Formation, so named for the local geology, is made up of muds and sand deposited by rivers and occurs in alternating bands of color, each of which is rich in fossil shells. A layer of filthy white sand and silt can be found near the base of the Rutland Formation. The Lincolnshire limestone can be found beneath the Rutland Formation. The Ketton Cement Works quarry, located on the outskirts of town, provides excellent exposure of this limestone (as well as the Rutland Formation). 

Rutland Water, originally known as Empingham Reservoir, is a massive manmade lake in the center of the county, practically dividing it in half together with the Hambleton Peninsula. The western portion lies within Catmose's Vale. In 1971, work began on what would become Europe's largest artificial lake, Rutland Water. The lake was filled and opened to the public in 1975. The residents of Rutland have chosen this as their favorite landmark.

Located on the county's western border, Cold Overton Park (formerly a part of Flitteriss Park) boasts the greatest elevation at 197 meters (646 feet) above sea level. North Lodge Farm, northeast of Belmesthorpe, is the lowest point in the county at just 17 m (56 ft) above sea level; this part of the county is on the edge of The Fens and is drained by the West Glen.

Economy of Rutland

Out of Rutland's estimated 17,000 working-age residents, 30.8% are employed in public administration, education, and health services; 29.7% work in distribution, hotels, and restaurants; and 16.5% work in manufacturing. Lands' End, located in nearby Oakham, and the Ketton Cement Works are also major employers in the area. Besides the University of Leicester, the city of Oakham, the city of Uppingham, and the jail of Stocken all employ people in Rutland for the Ministry of Defense. After a riot and government review forced the closure of Ashwell Prison at the end of March 2011, Rutland County Council purchased the property and is now developing it into Oakham Enterprise Park. When the quarries in the county that supplied iron ore to the Corby steel industry collapsed in the 1960s and 1970s, the large walking dragline at the Exton quarries, known as "Sundew," made headlines as it walked from Exton to Corby. Plenty of wheat is grown on the fertile land. The travel industry is expanding rapidly.

When it closed in 1997, the Ruddles Brewery was the city of Langham's largest employer. Thanks to an application by Ruddles, Rutland bitter is now one of just three beers in the United Kingdom to get PGI protection. Ruddles' former owners, Greene King, were unable to make use of the registration because they had already closed the Langham brewery. However, in 2010, Grainstore Brewery of Oakham introduced Rutland Bitter. 

As one of the least economically depressed places in England, it ranks 348th out of 354.

Rutland became the fourth Fairtrade County in the United Kingdom in March 2007.