A1-The Great North Road
There are fourteen Strettons in England. All but two (Stretton Heath and Stretton Westwood, both near Shrewsbury) are on Roman roads. The name is probably Saxon for Street-town or the Town on the Street and as recently as 1776, Armstrong spelt this one Streeton. Sometimes it has been, somewhat tautologically, called Stretton-in-the-Street.
“Interestingly, most of these villages do not appear to lie directly astride the road, but often about a quarter of a mile away, as is the case with Stretton-under-Fosse, Stretton-on-the-Fosse and Stretton-on-Dunsmore which are all just off the Roman Fosse Way. Later settlements such as Grantham or Stilton developed alongside major traffic routes, when the road brought the advantage of trade rather than the threat of possible attack from invading tribes.
“Stretton in Rutland forms a similar pattern of a small nuclear village within reach of, but not threatened by, the great Roman road to the north, Ermine Street. Had it been founded a few hundred yards west, on the Great North Road, it would probably have developed into a flourishing market or staging post for travelers. Significantly two of its inns, the former ‘Winchelsea Arms’ and ‘New Inn’ of 1791 (now ‘Ram Jam’ and ‘Greetham Inn’ respectively) were placed to take full advantage of the road. Stretton, however, remained a backwater.” More of this at Rutland Villages.
I’m not too sure about this “threatened by the road” idea. Roman roads are famous for just missing villages. Romans weren’t interested in half-mile detours just to link up the locals’ groups of mud huts. And the Saxons had their own reasons for siting their villages, which didn’t include going places on old Roman roads. There again main roads tended to carry armies some of which might be hostile and all were probably hungry so hiding behind a hedge might have been a smart move if one wanted a quiet life. Real threats from the road are more recent. Widening of the A1 in the sixties required the demolition of the police station and estate office opposite.
Ram Jam Inn, illustrated by Lindley Searle in the 1940s.
With the A1 still following the Roman route past Stretton, the Ram Jam and Greetham Inns must have picked up a lot of passing trade but not enough now for two pubs. The Greetham has had a spell as an antique shop and is now (August 2004) being refurbished.
| If you’re looking for good pub-grub and a seriously un-modernized pub then make the detour up the backwater into Stretton to Jackson Stops and get comfy in the old settles. But watch out for nurdlers. This is where the ancient game of nurdling is played. Under a cushion in one of the wooden settles is a hole through which coins are flung. First person to bounce all his coins off the settle back, through the hole and into the little drawer below wins. Scores are chalked up on the Nurdling Board above. Come Election Day this pub is a (licensed) polling station. A popular pub guide's entry runs: Idiosyncratic and informal, with homely furnishings and pleasant medley of rustic bric-a-brac. |
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Phillips wrote: An old Rutland proverb designates it: "Stretton-in-the-Street, where Shrews meet". But he leaves it, enigmatically, at that. Few remnants of the once widespread ridge and furrow field systems now remain but a small area beside the A1 exit into Stretton from the north is apparent.
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This road sign stands at the hamlet of Clipsham. The Yew Tree Avenue on the brown sign is a good spot for a stroll if you like very big yew trees. Castle Bytham has a big grassy hill that once sported a Norman castle and Holywell is big for geese. Visit Pickworth if on a John Clare pilgramage. |
Lincolnshire
©Biff Vernon 2001, 2002
