Empingham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Empingham | |
  Empingham shown within Rutland |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Unitary authority | Rutland |
| Ceremonial county | Rutland |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OAKHAM |
| Postcode district | LE15 |
| Dialling code | 01780 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| European Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Rutland and Melton |
| List of places: UK • England • Rutland | |
Empingham is a village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It lies close to the dam of Rutland Water and the A606 runs through the village. During construction, Empingham Reservoir was the name of the reservoir but it was renamed Rutland Water to preserve the name of the county which was being merged with Leicestershire.
The fine church of St Peter was a Peculiar of the see of Lincoln. When the diocese of Peterborough was created, this church remained tied to Lincoln Cathedral and the title of a Prebend there.
To the north east on the Great North Road (now A1) the Battle of Empingham was fought in 1470 as part of the Wars of the Roses. The battle is also known as Battle of Lose-coat Field (or Losecote Field), supposedly because the defeated Lancastrians when fleeing threw off the distinguishing clothing. However the name probably predates the battle and means pigsty field.
Forms of Losecote also appear as field names in other parishes in Rutland. An adjacent woodland is now called Bloody Oaks. Contemporary accounts refer to the battle site as Hornfield.
