Uppingham is a market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Rutland, England, off the A47 between Leicester and Peterborough, 6 miles (10 km) south of Oakham. It had a population of 4,745 according to the 2011 census, estimated at 4,853 in 2019.[2]
The town is known for its eponymous public school. With its art galleries Uppingham has become a popular destination for art lovers. Uppingham was named "best place to live in the Midlands in 2022" by The Times newspaper,[3] who commented on the town by calling it "a discerning market town with art, heart and smarts — plus the magnificent Rutland Water".
Toponymy
The name of the town means 'Homestead/village of the Yppingas (upland people)'. It stands on a high ridge near Beaumont Chase, hence "upland".[4]
History
A little over 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north-west at Castle Hill are the earthwork remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle.
Uppingham Workhouse was first recorded in 1777 with space for 40 inmates. Until 1834 it was a parish workhouse, but in 1836 the Uppingham Poor Law Union began and a Union workhouse was built in Leicester Road to house 158, to a design by architect William Donthorne. In the First World War, the building was used as an auxiliary hospital staffed by a Voluntary Aid Detachment. The workhouse closed in 1929 and the building was taken over by Uppingham School, which uses it as a girls' boarding house called Constables.[6]
The weekly market is held on Fridays. The Market Place is transformed once a year in November into the only fatstock show still held in temporary penning in a traditional market town. The first recorded show was in 1889. In 2011, 140 sheep, 24 pigs and 20 cattle were entered. The event attracts farmers from the area to exhibit their prize livestock and then toast their acquaintances in The Falcon Hotel.
Governance
The main local authority is Rutland County Council, which is responsible for most local services. Uppingham ward, which includes the neighbouring parish of Beaumont Chase, has three councillors out of a total of 27 on the county council.
Uppingham Town Council, based at Uppingham Town Hall, is responsible for services such as allotments, cemeteries and open spaces. Its 15 councillors include a Mayor, currently (2022) Councillor Liz Clarke.[8]
State schooling in Uppingham is covered by a state secondary school, Uppingham Community College, and two primary schools: Leighfield and Uppingham C of E. A proposal to replace the primaries with a newly built school was rejected in 2007.[9]
Uppingham has several independent and internationally renowned art galleries. The Goldmark Gallery has been selling art from their Uppingham gallery for over 40 years and hold over 50,000 items in stock.[citation needed]
Media
Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Waltham TV transmitter.[12]
Uppingham railway station, at the end of a branch line from Seaton, was opened in 1894 and was located at the end of Queen Street. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1960 and the line closed completely in 1964. The station area has now been redeveloped as an industrial estate. Although the operational railway line runs closest to Uppingham at Manton Junction, it has no station.
Uppingham plays host to a number of different sports; in particular football, where Uppingham Town F.C play their games at Tod's Piece. Uppingham Town Cricket Club's new ground opened in 2011.[16]
Uppingham School's new sports centre was opened by Lord Coe in 2010.[17]
Town Partnership
'Uppingham Town Partnership' is a not-for-profit community group with the support of the Town Council and Rutland County Council, dedicated to ensuring the town is a great place to live, work and play.[18] Its volunteers organise annual events including "Uppingham Feast Day" (a live music festival with street entertainment, food and drink) held in June and Christmas in Uppingham[19] (a festive celebration with late night shopping in the local shops, visiting market-stalls and yuletide street entertainment). The group of volunteers also supports and raises funds for other events such "Uppingham Films" which screens movies in the Town Hall, and supports 'Uppingham in Bloom' which has become a multiple gold-medal winner with Britain in Bloom. It is not to be confused with Uppingham First, which is an unelected business partnership.
References
^"Uppingham"(PDF). Rutland County Council. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016. Population 1991 3143; Population 2001 3947; Population 2011 4745
^Higginbotham, Peter. "The Workhouse in Uppingham, Rutland". The Workhouse. Retrieved 8 March 2016. The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 11,027 with parishes ranging in size from Holt (population 42) to Uppingham itself (1,754)
