There are no manufactures of any consequence in this county, which is ascribed to the want of water, and scarcity of fuel.
The minerals of this county are so trifling that they scarcely require to be noticed; at Kelton excellent stone is procured for building; and in many places there is stone for lime of a soft and hard species; these stones are deserving the attention of the naturalist, as they contain a great number of marine substances, and are of various degrees of tenacity from indurated clay to the consistence of stone. The presence of iron is indicated by the chalybeate springs, and by the red ochrey colour of the soil in several places. This pro perty of the soil has been greatly exaggerated; an old writer states, that it is so red that it stains the wool of the sheep that feed on it of a red colour.
The early history of Rutlandshire can scarcely be separated from that of the neighbouring districts. It originally formed part of the territories of the Corita ni, and after the subjugation of the kingdom by the Romans, it was included in their province of Flavia Caesariensis. During the Saxon heptarchy, it formed part of the kingdom of Mercia, and after the union of the different nations under one monarch, it seems to have belonged to the crown, being bequeathed by Ed ward the Confessor to his queen Edith, and after her death to Westminster Abbey. After the Norman in
vasion Rutland was granted by William the Conquer or to his niece Judith, and several others of his nearest relations. At that period it does not seem to have been of the same extent as at present, part of it being in Nottinghamshire, as appears from its entry in Domes day book.
The population of Rutland has remained for a long time nearly stationary. According to the various par liamentary returns, the number of inhabitants in 1801 amounted to 16,356; the number of houses were 3274, which were occupied by 3563 families; in 1811, the population was 16,380; and in 1821, it had increased to 18,487, of whom 9223 were males, and 9264 fe males; the number of houses inhabited were 3589, and the families 3936. The poor's rates are compar atively low, a circumstance which is ascribed to many of the cottagers being allowed as much land as keeps one or two cows. There are several friendly societies, and one entitled the Society for Promoting Industry which has been extremely beneficial to the poorer classes. The greater part of the parishes are exone rated from tithes, either by modes or being free. See the Beauties of England and Wales.