Glaston

Gladeston (xi cent.); Glaeston (xii cent.); Glaceton, Claston, Glaston (xiii cent.)

Glaston is a small village in the County of Rutland, it straddles the A47 roughly equidistant between Leicester and Peterborough.

Glaston covers an area of 1,170 acres. The northern and southern boundaries are formed by streams, from both of which the land rises to about 400 ft. above Ordnance datum at the middle of the parish. The soil is clay and loam with sand and gravel in parts. Most of the land is under grass.

The village stands on high ground on the road from Uppingham to Stamford about 2 miles from the former town, and at the west end of the parish where the road is crossed by a by-road from Seaton to Wing. It was described in 1813 as a pleasant cheerful village. 

The chief part is on the north side of the main road to Uppingham where, at the west end of the village, stands the church with a pleasing background of trees.

To the south of the church is the Rectory, which was rebuilt in brick in 1861–2, but incorporates a small 17th-century house built of ironstone which is comprised in the area now occupied by the dining-room and hall. Additions made to this house in the 18th century were pulled down when the house was rebuilt. Glaston House stands in a small park at the east end of the village.

The old Manor House, which stood on the east side of the church was pulled down in 1891. It consisted of a main block and two wings built of a white stone in the middle of the 17th century. The garden walls, which were still standing in 1880, are said to have been much older than the house. 

There was a windmill belonging to the manor in 1326, and a wood called Brende.  In 1409 a road called Postgate and a hedge at Verynge are mentioned.  Half an acre of land given for finding a lamp in the church  was granted in 1550 to Thomas Reve, John Johnson and Henry Harden. 

There is a cartwash of circa 1740, used for soaking cartwheels to prevent the wood shrinking from iron tyres and also for horses’ hooves to prevent hardening.

At the time of the Domesday Survey GLASTON was divided between two lords. A hide and a half formed part of the king’s manor of Barrowden,  and 4 hides were held by William of the Countess Judith.  The land which formed part of Barrowden passed with that manor to the Earls of Warwick, whose overlordship of part of Glaston was recognised till the beginning of the 15th century.