| Wing | |
|---|---|
 Wing's turf maze | |
  Wing Location withinRutland | |
| Area | 1.74 sq mi (4.5 km2) [1] |
| Population | 314 2011 Census[2] |
| • Density | 181/sq mi (70/km2) |
| OS grid reference | SK893033 |
| • London | 80 mi (130 km) SSE |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OAKHAM |
| Postcode district | LE15 |
| Dialling code | 01572 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| 52°37′12″N0°40′55″W / 52.620°N 0.682°W /52.620; -0.682 | |
Wing is a village andcivil parish in theEast Midlands county ofRutland, England. The population was 315 at the 2001 census and 314 at that of 2011.[3] It features a fine church and a labyrinth made of turf.Rutland Water reservoir is nearby.
The village name, first found asWenge in the 12th century, probably derives from theOld Norsevengi, meaning field.[4]
Seventeenth-century houses in Wing were built of stone quarried at nearbyBarnack andClipsham. Many are roofed withCollyweston stone slate.[5]
TheChurch of St Peter and St Paul, Wing[6] was much rebuilt in 1875, when thespire was removed. Some parts date fromNorman times, including the southarcade of about 1150, the slightly later north arcade, and the north doorway.[7]
Cut into the turf beside Glaston Road is a circular "turf maze" roughly 40 ft (12 m) in diameter (actually aunicursallabyrinth) It is thought to date back tomedieval times, based on the fact that its design is similar to the pavementmaze inChartres cathedral and those at other medieval sites.[8]
The remaining public house is theKing's Arms. The name of theCuckoo Inn, closed in 2004, alluded to a legend that the people of Wing once tried to keep spring in the village forever by erecting a fence around acuckoo to stop it from leaving. Naturally, it flew over the fence and away. As a result, people from the village were known as "Wing Fools".[5] This is actually a widespread story, the best-known version probably appearing among the adventures theWise Men of Gotham. There is a village hall.[9]
Wing Hall has a camping and caravan site with a shop and café.
A plant outside Wing treats water extracted fromRutland Water reservoir a few miles to the north. Proposals byAnglian Water to raise the volume of water extracted were opposed by theRSPB, fearing that water-level changes would damage adjacentwildfowlhabitats.[10]
Medical, legal and other services can be found inOakham (6 miles, 10 km).
Wing has one or two daily weekday buses with Oakham. Hourly daytime buses six days a week betweenMelton Mowbray, Oakham andCorby pass throughManton 1.3 miles (2 km) away. The nearest railway station is atOakham (6 miles, 10 km), butCorby (11.5 miles, 18.5 km) has hourly services seven days a week toLondon St Pancras, changing atKettering (a little over an hour).
Also nearby (1.5 miles, 2.4 km) is the mainA6003 road betweenKettering and Oakham viaUppingham.
In birth order:
Media related toWing, Rutland at Wikimedia Commons