We took our friends to visit the historic town of Oakham and took the Heritage Trail around the town. This is Oakham Castle in the county of Rutland - the smallest county in England. While not the usual type of castle, it survives because it is still in use as a courtroom. This is the Great Hall which is all that remains of an early medieval fortified manor house. There is a unique custom that peers of the realm should forfeit a horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor on their first visit to the town. The oldest horseshoe displayed was presented by Edward IV in 1470 and the newest by the Duchess of Cornwall just two weeks ago.
