- Whitwell, Rutland
Whitwell is a village in the county of
Rutland in theEast Midlands ofEngland .It is located about four miles east of
Oakham , on the north shore ofRutland Water . A pleasure boat known as the Rutland Belle operates from Whitwell Harbour. It is also a popular sailing and water sports area. In 2001 it had a population of 42.Whitwell claims to be twinned with
Paris ,France . In the 1970s, regulars from the pub, the Noel Arms wrote to the then Mayor of Paris,Jacques Chirac proposing the link and with a tight deadline for a response. As no answer arrived from the Mayor's office by the set date, the village unilaterally declared itself to be twinned and erected roadsigns to that effect. The original wooden signs were later replaced in metal byRutland County Council .Whitwell is one of the smallest villages in Rutland. It only has 19 houses, however, does boast a pub and hotel nestled amongst those. Both are located on the main A606 opposite each other, so are easily found. The pub, now called The Noel, has a mixture of both traditional and modern elements to it, and serves a variety of home cooked meals alongside fine wines and real ales.
External links
* [http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-12-11/Debate-3.html Official story of how Whitwell came to be twinned with Paris, as told to Parliament. (Scroll down to bottom of "Column 1137")] .
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,939491,00.html A story from the "Guardian" covering the story of how Whitwell became twinned with Paris. (about 2/3 of the way down)] .
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