|
Breedon-On-The-Hill Church (St. Mary
and St. Hardulph)
The hill, a limestone outcrop, is a prominent landmark
in the surrounding countryside and the church can be seen from
many miles away. In the late Iron Age (roughly 600 BC to the
Roman conquest) it was a defended settlement, traces remaining
of the surrounding bank. The workings of a large quarry on the
east side extend almost up to the churchyard.
A Saxon Monastery was established on the top of the hill in the
late 7th century. In the early 12th century this was replaced
by an Augustinian priory to which a parochial nave was added
a little later. The following century saw a new chancel added
to the east of the tower and with the tower forms the present
church. From the Saxon period there remains a remarkable series,
probably of the late 8th century, of Saxon stone figure sculptures
stone figure sculptures and sculptured friezes. There are many
Shirley monuments of various dates and a large enclosed Shirley
family pew dated 1627. This is the family name of the subsequently
ennobled Earls Ferrers.
|
Breedon
on Hill 
