Despite its small size, Rutland is a highly popular county, owing to its handsome towns, characterised by stone-built houses with thatched roofs. Rutland is also home to Rutland Water, a large reservoir (the largest by surface-area in England) built in the 1970s that provides water to much of the East Midlands. The A1 road also passes through Rutland. | Despite its small size, Rutland is a highly popular county, owing to its handsome towns, characterised by stone-built houses with thatched roofs. Rutland is also home to Rutland Water, a large reservoir (the largest by surface-area in England) built in the 1970s that provides water to much of the East Midlands. The A1 road also passes through Rutland. |