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Exton -
meaning "ox
farm" is mentioned in 1185 as Exton Park
- 'a wooded farm, enclosed for hunting deer'.
It was Rutland's largest park, at one time covering
1,500 acres and with a herd of 500 deer!
Following
the Norman Conquest the land was owned by the
de Brus family, passing, by marriage to the
Haringtons in the early 16th century, when John
Harington married Catherine Colepepper. The
Haringtons were the most important family in
Rutland. The most powerful was Sir John Harington,
created Baron Harington at the coronation of
King James I of England.
 This
elevation became a mixed blessing when he was
made guardian of James' daughter, Elizabeth.
The high cost of entertaining her, without a
suitable allowance, ruined him. He minted his
own money, made of brass, but this was valueless,
leading to the saying "not worth a brass
farthing". Theprincess married the Elector
Palatine to become "Queen of Bohemia".
The avenue of trees leading to the Double Lodges
gatehouses at the entrance to Exton Park is
still known today as the "Queen of Bohemia's
Ride"! Lord Harington accompanied her to
Bohemia, but died on his way back.
After
his death in 1613, the estate was sold to pay
creditors, being purchased by Sir Baptist Hicks,
a London Mereer, money lender and a contractor
for Crown lands. His daughter married the 1st
Baron Noel, the Noel family took over the estate
and have kept it to this day. Sir Baptist Hicks
purchased another estate, Campden in Gloucestershire,
and was created Viscount Campden. This title
is now bestowed on the Earl of Gainsborough's
eldest son. The present Viscount Campden lives
in Exton Hall.
As well
as the main village known today, there were
several cottages near the Church known as Little
Exton. These were demolished in 1860 when the
then Earl wished to clear the park. The road
to this began opposite the present day Noel's
Close on the Oakham Road and connected to Pudding
Bag Lane.
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