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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Norwich Castle, Norwich, Norfolk

Norwich

a Historic City in the county of Norfolk

Minehead station

Minehead

a Seaside Town in the county of Somerset

Durdle Door

West Lulworth

in the county of Dorset

Pictures of Hallaton

in the county of Leicestershire

About Hallaton

As an area of such outstanding beauty, it is not surprising that the lands all around here are known for providing the finest hunting in all England. There is simply mile after mile of undulating countryside, a complete patchwork of hedged rectangular fields, criss-crossed here and there by meandering little streams. It is an engaging picture, with long winding leafy lanes, resplendent with gracious stone houses and cottages, gloriously adorned with ravishing gardens that are a riot of colourful summer flowers, foxglove, lupin, sweet pea and roses that climb, to cover old mellow stone walls. These lanes are often more suited to the horses riding out along them, than they are to the traffic of today.

Hallaton has a beautiful old church. The church of St.Michael, dates mainly 13th-century but there are fragments from Norman times. In the porch there is a tympanum, depicting St.George and the Dragon. The aisles are 14th-century and there is some good 13th-century decoration to the chancel, there is also some exquisite 19th-century stained glass. There is a cool serenity about this lovely church, it is well worth a visit.

Easter Monday sees the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne engaged in a riotous 'bottle kicking' contest which is said to have pagan origins. The local vicar distributes slices of Hare Pie, the remains of which are scattered on Hare Pie Bank. The villagers then engage to carry bottles of beer over the opposition boundary. The winner is carried shoulder high to Hallerton's butter cross to sample the beer, the celebrations continue in the local inns. The contest may be a pagan rite and have to do with hare worship, or it could derive from sacrificial rites in connection with the godess Eostre. But, whatever, it is an exhilarating time of fun and merriment, everyone joins in, it is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Hallaton is mentioned in the Domesday book under the old name of Alctone. It is believed that Castle Hill, just outside Hallaton, was inhabited more than a thousand years before the Normans came and this is supported by findings during the 19th-century that are on display in Leicester museum. The lovely building of Hallaton Hall dates back to the 18th-century.

This is prime hunting country and Hallaton is but one of a collection of quintessentially English villages interspersed throughout the beautiful Welland Valley. It is an area of rich grazing lands, gloriously green, and not to be missed.

Hallaton lies close to the boarder of the beautiful county of Rutland and the delightful town of Market Harborough is about 10 miles away.

Recommended towns & villages near Hallaton

Oakham Castle and All Saints Church

Oakham (86 Pictures) in the county of Rutland

(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction NE of Hallaton)

For centuries the countryside around Oakham has echoed to the sound of hunting horns, for the vales and rolling farmland surrounding this sedate market town, have been the stamping ground for the counties hunting fraternity...

Leicester University Botanic Gardens

Leicester (362 Pictures) a Historic City in the county of Leicestershire

(13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction W of Hallaton)

Leicester is famed amongst other things for its fine parish church which was raised to Cathedral status in 1927...

St. Mary's Church, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

Melton Mowbray (25 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Leicestershire

(14.3 miles, 23.1 km, direction N of Hallaton)

An historic market town famous for its Pork packed pies and Stilton cheeses, both are savoured all over Britain and in many other countries...

Stamford

Stamford (246 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Lincolnshire

(16.1 miles, 25.9 km, direction NE of Hallaton)

Of the 17 churches, only 6 now remain in Stamford, which is without doubt, one of the finest medieval towns in the British Isles, if not in Europe...

Rothley Railway Station

Rothley (12 Pictures) in the county of Leicestershire

(16.3 miles, 26.3 km, direction NW of Hallaton)

Rothley is a delightful village with two village greens, one is flanked by some of the country's finest timber framed houses. The village shows a graceful selection of architecture including pretty Cruck Cottages...

All towns & villages in Leicestershire
Complete A to Z of towns & villages in England

Nearby attractions..

Rockingham Castle Gardens, Corby, Northamptonshire

Rockingham Castle Gardens (3 Pictures)

(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction SE)

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View from Rockingham Castle, Corby, Northamptonshire

Rockingham Castle (7 Pictures)

(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SE)

..

Foxton Locks, Near Market Harborough, 'Narrow Boat coming down'

Foxton Locks (37 Pictures)

(7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction SW)

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Rutland Water

Rutland Water (128 Pictures)

(8.4 miles, 13.4 km, direction NE)

Rutland Water is the largest reservoir in England (by surface area) and one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe. Its.....

Kirby Hall

Kirby Hall (30 Pictures)

(8.6 miles, 13.9 km, direction E)

Looking around the romantic ruin of Kirby Hall it is easy to imagine the splendour of an age when romance was all, and great.....

Rushton Triangular Lodge, Northamptonshire

Rushton Triangular Lodge (9 Pictures)

(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction S)

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Deene Park, Corby, Northamptonshire

Deene Park (5 Pictures)

(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction E)

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All attractions in Hallaton
All attractions in Leicestershire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England