Clipsham

Clipsham
The Church of St Mary
Clipsham  Clipsham shown within Rutland
Area	2.61 sq mi (6.8 km2)
Population	120 (2001 Census)
– density	46/sq mi (18/km2)
OS grid reference	SK969163
– London	88 miles (142 km) SSE
Unitary authority	Rutland
Ceremonial county	Rutland
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OAKHAM
Postcode district	LE15
Dialling code	01572
Police	Leicestershire
Fire	Leicestershire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Rutland and Melton
List of places UK England Rutland

Clipsham is a small village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is in the northeast of Rutland, close to the county boundary with Lincolnshire.

The village is well known for its limestone quarries. Clipsham stone, part of the Upper Lincolnshire Limestone Formation, can be found in many of Britain's most famous buildings including King's College Chapel (Cambridge), the Examination Schools in Oxford, York Minster, and in repairs to the Houses of Parliament. The earliest recorded use of Clipsham stone was for Windsor Castle between 1363 and 1368. The London Stone is made of it, however, and dates back at least to about 1100.

The parish church of St Mary is a Grade II* listed building.

The Olive Branch is one of the very few pubs to hold a Michelin star and in 2008 was chosen as winner of the Michelin Pub of the Year.

Fantastic topiary at Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue

A topiary windmill

The topiary Yew Tree Avenue, once the carriage drive to Clipsham Hall, has been maintained by the Forestry Commission. The avenue stretches for 500 metres (1,600 ft), with some 150 shaped yew trees leading towards the Hall, an Grade II* listed mansion set in a landscaped park. Many of the trees are over 200 years old and have been trimmed since the late 19th-century into various shapes depicting birds and animals on the tops and designs in relief on the sides.

See also

• List of types of limestone

External links

Film of Clipsham Quarry in 1927