Rugby, Warwickshire

Rugby (derived from “Hroca’s fortified place” with the Scandinavian "by” replacing the original “bury” or “burh”) is a market town in Warwickshire, England, 17 km (11miles) south-east of Coventry. It became an important railway junction during the early age of steam in the 19th century and is still an engineering centre.

It is famous for the Rugby School, founded in 1567 but notable in the mid-19th century for introducing the notion of “muscular Christianity” – the joining of faith and fitness in a young gentleman – which became an important part of upper-class education in the Imperial age. The game of Rugby originated at the school. The poet, Rupert Brooke and the essayist Rose Macaulay were both off-spring of masters at the school.