Initially it was to be called ‘Empingham Reservoir’, but local pressure persuaded the water authority to change it to ‘Rutland Water’. Not everyone was happy at the prospect of flooding a large area of prime agricultural land and there was a concerted campaign against the proposal, especially from those farmers who considered that they were about to lose their land and livelihood.

Archaeological excavation at Whitwell 1973The fertile land which was about to be flooded had been farmed for thousands of years. Archaeological investigations, both before and during the construction of the reservoir, revealed evidence of Roman farmsteads, which is not surprising considering that Great Casterton, the known location of an important Roman fort and town, is only a few miles further down the valley. Sites of Iron Age hut circles, Saxon houses and cemeteries, and medieval dwellings and barns were found.