Braunston-in-Rutland

Braunston-in-Rutland is a veelage an ceevil parish in the coonty o Rutland in the East Midlands o Ingland. Leicestershire lees on the parish's wastren bundary

Braunston is locatit roughly three mile (4.8 km) sooth-wast o the coonty toun o Oakham.

The veelage retains twa public hooses, The Old Plough an The Blue Ball. The kirk, in a circular kirkyard, is dedicatit tae All Saints.

The Braunston "Goddess"
A curious sculptit stane staunds in the kirkyard, at the wast end o the kirk, close tae the touer. Kent as the Braunston "Goddess", it wis foond in aboot 1920 when the kirk doorstep needit tae be replaced. When the slab wis liftit this carvin wis revealed on the unnerside. There haes been considerable speculation as tae its age an meanin, an its oreeginal position as pairt o the kirk biggin, or whether it mey even predate the kirk. It is clearly no a gargoyle as it haes nae drainage channel. It mey hae haed an apotropaic purpose. It haes facial an stylistic similarities wi some Erse Sheela na gigs, but it haes nae genitalia.

References

Freemit airtins

 At the Edge airticle on the Braunston "Goddess"
Sheela Na Gig Project airticle on the Braunston figur 
Step back in time in Rutland, The Observer, The Guardian, Januar 25 2009

Category:Veelages in Rutland