| Ryhall | |
Village sign |
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Ryhall
Ryhall shown within Rutland |
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| Area | 4.19 sq mi (10.9 km2) [1] |
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| Population | 1,644 2001 Census[2] |
| - Density | 392 /sq mi (151 /km2) |
| OS grid reference | TF036108 |
| - London | 83 miles (134 km) SSE |
| Unitary authority | Rutland |
| Ceremonial county | Rutland |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STAMFORD |
| Postcode district | PE9 |
| Dialling code | 01780 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Rutland and Melton |
| List of places: UK • England • Rutland | |
Ryhall is a village and civil parish[3] in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is located close to the eastern boundary of the county, about 2 miles (3 km) north of Stamford.
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In 2001 Ryhall had a population of 1,742, making it one of the largest villages in Rutland. It is bounded to its west by the A6121 main road from Stamford to Bourne and on the other three sides by the River Gwash, although some development has spilled over the river to the north and out along the Essendine road.
Ryhall has a Church of England Primary School, with an attendance, in 2003, of 170 pupils aged 4 to 11.
The village also has a post office/village shop, butcher's, Methodist Chapel, library and two pubs ('The Millstone' and 'The Green Dragon'). The former Fordham's supermarket of the 1960s/70s is now a kitchen showroom.
The football club, Ryhall United F.C. re-formed during the 2009-10 season and are currently playing in the Peterborough and District Football League Division 2.
Also in the parish is the hamlet of Belmesthorpe located just South of Ryhall about three miles (5 km) north of Stamford in Lincolnshire.
The ecclesiastical parish is Ryhall with Essendine and Carlby, part of the Rutland Deanery of the Diocese of Peterborough.[4] The incumbent is The Revd Patrick McKee.[5]
There is an early thirteenth century parish church, dedicated to St John the Evangelist.[6] The exterior has a number of interesting carved figures. The southern entrance has a porch with a room over it, originally for the priest, now called the Parvis Room.
Saint Tibba, patron saint of falconers, is believed to have lived in Ryhall in the 7th century. She was buried here, but in the 11th century her relics were translated to Peterborough Abbey, now Peterborough Cathedral, by Abbot Ælfsige (1006–1042).[7][8] According to legend, St Tibba was a niece of King Penda of Mercia.[9] The remains of a small hermitage associated with the saint can be seen on the west side of the north aisle of church.[6]
A 19th century book refers to a holy well dedicated to Saint Tibba, though the location cannot now be identified,[10] and there is similar doubt about the location of a well said to have been dedicated to Tibba's alleged relative, St Ebba.[11]
The route of the Stamford and Essendine railway passed through the parish, on embankments still clearly visible today. It included a station called "Ryhall & Belmisthorpe", located in Belmesthorpe.[12] The line opened in 1856 but closed a century later in 1959.