Braunston-in-Rutland
The village's name means 'farm/settlement of Brant'. Alternatively, the personal name could be 'Brandr', a Scandinavian name.
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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/The_Braunston_%22Goddess%22.jpg/170px-The_Braunston_%22Goddess%22.jpg)
All Saints' Church
All Saints' Church has a circular churchyard. 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 not a gargoyle as it has no drainage channel. It may have had an apotropaic purpose.
References
- ^ "A vision of Britain through time". University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- ^ "Rutland Civil Parish Populations" (PDF). Rutland County Council. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "Key to English Place-names". Retrieved 4 August 2023.
External links
Media related to Braunston-in-Rutland at Wikimedia Commons
- At the Edge article on the Braunston "Goddess"
- Sheela Na Gig Project article on the Braunston figure Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Step back in time in Rutland, The Observer, The Guardian, January 25, 2009
- Braunston Church Website
- The Blue Ball, Rutland's oldest inn
- Braunston Parish Council website