Rugby is the home of Rugby football and Rugby School
which provided the inspiration for the novel 'Tom Brown’s Schooldays'.
Today Rugby has an attractive town centre with a good range of shops
and a number of quality restaurants and bars.
History
The history of the town is that it grew on
the top of a sandy ridge between Dunsmore Heath to the west and
Hillmorton in the east. Both north and south of the ridge are river
valleys. Early ploughs could not cope with heavy clay so settlement
concentrated on lighter soils making Dunsmore Heath and the Avon Valley
ideal for such an ancient settlement.
The position of Rugy has also meant it's been very much on a border of some sort. Firstly during the Roman occupation where the Fosse Way was the northern border for Roman England, and then later during the Anglo-Saxon and Viking times with the northern Danelaw pushing into the south. For further history on the town see the Rugby History site.
Rugby is most famous for the invention of
Rugby football, which is played throughout the world. Legend has it
that the game was invented by William Webb Ellis in 1823 at Rugby
School, which is near the centre of Rugby. The Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum
which has an exhibition on the history of the game as well as being the
home to thousands of items of rugby memorabilia is a must see for the
rugby enthusiast. Visitors can also watch a rugby ball being hand
stitched by master craftsmen.
Rugby School
is one of England's oldest and most prestigious public schools, and was
the setting of Thomas Hughes's semi-autobiographical masterpiece Tom
Brown's Schooldays. A substantial part of the 2004 dramatisation of the
novel, starring Stephen Fry, was filmed on location at Rugby School.
Rugby is also birthplace of the jet engine.
In April 1937, Sir Frank Whittle built the world's first prototype jet
engine at the British Thomson-Houston works in Rugby, and between
1936-41 based himself at Brownsover Hall on the outskirts of the town,
where he designed and developed early prototype engines. Much of his
work was also carried out at nearby Lutterworth. Holography was also
invented in Rugby by the Hungarian inventor Dennis Gabor in 1947.
In the 19th century, Rugby became famous
for its once hugely important railway junction which was the setting
for Charles Dickens's story Mugby Junction.
Famous or notable people born in Rugby
include the poet Rupert Brooke, the scientist Norman Lockyer who
discovered helium, and the athlete Katharine Merry. Also, many famous
names attended Rugby School, including Neville Chamberlain, Lewis
Carrol, Matthew Arnold and Salman Rushdie.
Attractions and places to visit
When visiting the town, drop by the Rugby Visitor Centre,
located in the foyer of Rugby Art Gallery Museum & library, the
visitor centre offers a comprehensive range of visitor information
services.
Not forgetting all the buildings associated with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 such as Guy Fawkes House in nearby Dunchurch.
Full list of Attractions
For full details of attractions in and around Rugby see our Attractions Database that lists what to see and do in Rugby District.
Enjoywarwickshire.com Gold Offers
Please also see our Attractions Database for full details on what Gold Offers are available in and around Rugby.
Nearby locations
Villages and Hamlets surrounding Rugby include Dunchurch, Bilton, Long Lawford, Church Lawford, Clifton on Dunsmore, Cawston and King's Newnham.
Tourist Information
The local Tourist Information Office is based at:
Rugby Visitor Centre
Rugby Art Gallery & Museum & Library
Little Elborow Street
Rugby
CV21 3BZ
Tel: 01788 533217
Fax: 01788 533212
Email: visitor.centre@rugby.gov.uk
Visitor Centre Opening Times
Mondays 10.00 - 17.00
Tuesdays - Fridays 09.30 - 17.00
Saturdays 09.30 - 16.00
Sundays & Bank Holidays 11.00 - 15.00
Access Rugby details surveyed facilities available for people with disabilities whilst visiting Rugby.
