Lyndon
Lyndon is situated south of Rutland Water.
Lyndon means 'lime-tree hill'. Although the shape of the eponymous hill is more like a shelf.
Nationally, Old English dun appears to mean a hill with a summit suitable for settlement and is well represented in Rutland and Leicestershire and place-names. In Rutland other good examples are Barrowden and Hambleton.
Lyndon is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086 so was most likely one of the seven berewicks of Hambleton.
Lyndon was in Martinsley Hundred.
Lyndon Hall was built between 1671–3 to the west of the village. As
with Burley House, the owner learnt sufficient about architecture to
design the building for himself, although changes were made in the
nineteenth century, such as moving the entrance to the north.
The stables, partly seventeenth century, are surmounted by a stone cupola
and a weathervane in the form of a stag. Gilbert White, the Selbourne
naturalist, stayed here often. His sister was married to Thomas Barker (1722–1809)
of Lyndon Hall, one of the first meteorologists.
More Thomas Barker's weather observations in Rutland Record No.2.
Top Hall, also called Upper Hall, to the north on a hill, is of a similar date.
St Martin's church
St Martin's church was built in the fourteenth century but restored rather heavy-handedly in 1866. Photograph taken in 2001.
St Martin's church
Inside is a strange twelfth century Romanesque font decorated with crude serpentine carvings.
It was discovered in the churchyard during the 1866 restorations.
The reredos of 1866.
The 1866 restorations are responsible for the alabaster reredos and rather over-imposing pulpit. Look out for the rood loft stairs, a three-eyed face on
the south porch doorway and some miserable-looking faces decorating the nave arcade. Outside there are interesting gargoyles.
Victoria County History page for Lyndon.
Back to top of this page Back to home page
This website does not gather or store any visitor information.
Copyright Bob Trubshaw 2026
No unauthorised copying
or reproduction except if all following conditions apply
a: Copy is complete (including this copyright statement).
b: No changes are made.
c: No charge is made.
www.hoap.co.uk/rutland
|