Clipsham offers several distinct points of interest for culture and architecture enthusiasts: Yew Tree Avenue, once used as a carriage drive; the Church of St Mary, with a building history spanning several centuries; the entrance front of Clipsham Hall; and the use of Clipsham Stone. This variety is helpful when choosing the focus of a stay: you can make an outdoor break, church architecture, a façade detail or the history of a building material the centrepiece of your visit.

Yew Tree Avenue: former carriage drive and present-day visit

Yew Tree Avenue was once the carriage drive to Clipsham Hall. Today, it is free to visit and offers a place to sit and enjoy a picnic. The avenue is over 200 years old and consists of 150 clipped yew trees in unusual shapes. Its history and present-day use offer two different reasons to explore it: the drive points to a former function, while the invitation to sit and picnic reflects how it is enjoyed today. Alongside the buildings, the avenue thus offers a distinctive outdoor focus.

Church and hall: construction dates and architectural details

The Church of St Mary is largely a 12th-, 13th- and 14th-century building; its west tower dates from around 1300. This makes it possible to date the tower more precisely than the building as a whole. Anyone interested in the development of church architecture will find both a broad historical context and a more specifically dated building feature here. St Mary’s Church also contains a Pugin memorial, adding another aspect to the church.

At Clipsham Hall, the focus is on a specific part of the building: the entrance front has a semicircular, open porch with four Roman Doric columns. Here, the architecture can be considered through the shape of the porch and the number and type of columns. The contrast with the Church of St Mary is useful when choosing a focus: there, the construction dates and west tower take centre stage; at the hall, it is the design of the entrance.

Clipsham Stone in two building contexts

Clipsham Stone also offers a distinct perspective on building history. It was used at Windsor Castle in Berkshire in the 14th century and later, in the 20th century, during the restoration of the Palace of Westminster in London. The two examples differ in both date and purpose: the use at Windsor Castle was followed by its use in a restoration many centuries later. This comparison shifts the focus from the construction date of a single building to the use of a named stone in different building contexts.

Clipsham’s attractions therefore offer different points of focus: Yew Tree Avenue combines its former function with a present-day opportunity for an outdoor break. The Church of St Mary offers a broad building history, while the entrance front of Clipsham Hall highlights a particular architectural detail. Clipsham Stone adds a comparison of its use in the 14th and 20th centuries. This allows you to shape your stay around the cultural or architectural theme that interests you most.

Discover more destinations: Uppingham, Morcott, Lyddington, Seaton, Ashwell, Empingham, North Luffenham, Langham

For the wider travel overview: Rutland.