Welcome to the village of Preston in Rutland

Preston, Rutland, is an attractive village lying on the main Uppingham to Oakham road. Many of the houses are built of local ironstone and in the rays of the evening sunshine take on a lovely mellow golden shack.

The church is a beautiful building mainly 14th and 15th century with a richly decorated Norman arch and a glorious east window. The manor house dates from the 17th century and Preston Hall also from this period, with additional wings added later.

There used to be six farmers and two smallholders in the village, one farmer also brewing his own beer and owning a threshing outfit. There were several tradesmen too, a baker, blacksmith, master thatcher, wheelwright and carpenter, butcher, tailor and two signalmen, There were only two commuters in those days, one by bicycle and the other on a motorbike, both going to work at Corby steelworks.

The cottages were occupied by grooms, gardeners and farmworkers. Everybody knew everyone else and there was a strong spirit of good neighbourliness throughout the village. There was a school, two shops and a post office, now sadly all gone.

The church choir of approximately 18 voices enjoyed an annual outing to the Choir Festival at Peterborough Cathedral. Rogationtide meant clergymen and choir going to farms, fields and allotments to ask God's blessing on the crops. Allotment holders would cease their work to join in the service, often joined by a bleat or bellow. All these occasions are now past and only one allotment holder remains.

Preston Feast was a highlight, the Sunday following 29th June. Sunday meant church, often followed in many homes by tea for visiting friends, the specialty being curd tarts, often baked in the bakehouse for 1d a dozen and fruit cakes for 2d. Sunday dinner could also be bought from the baker's wife for 2d each.

Preston and Ridlington Flower Show was formed in 1950 and has continued to thrive and enlarge. Classes for flowers, fruit and produce are well supported with photography and flower arrangements being later additions, which draw exhibitors from a wide area.

Preston is a neat and tidy village, thanks to the efforts of the residents, one in particular who mows the banks, which in spring are adorned with daffodils. Preston has won the tidy village contest several times.

NB
The village information above is taken from The Leicestershire & Rutland Village Book, written by members of the Leicestershire & Rutland Federation of Women's Institutes and published by Countryside Books.








Main Street
The village of Preston, Rutland