The best city hikes and walks around Ashby-De-La-Zouch

There was a church in the town in the 11th century, but the core of the present building mainly dates from work started in 1474, when the church was rebuilt by the 1st Baron Hastings at the same time that he converted his neighbouring manor house into a castle. The church was refurbished in about 1670 to create more space, but the large & increasing size of the congregation led to further work in 1829, and a major rebuild in 1878–80. Domesday recorded that a priest was resident in Ashby, and that the church dedicated to St Helen consisted only of a nave. In about 1144, Philip Beaumains, lord of the Manor of Ashby, granted the church, its lands and revenues to the Augustinian community of Lilleshall Abbey, which retained possession until 1538. Parts of the current nave & chancel date from the C14, but the church was rebuilt and enlarged by William Hastings in 1474, at the same time that he erected the tower at the castle.

The church was built between 1838 and 1840 to designs by the Derby architect, Henry Isaac Stevens. The chancel was added in 1866 by James Piers St Aubyn. The church was consecrated by George Davys, Bishop of Peterborough on 13 August 1840. It was reported that: The Marquess of Hastings gave land for the site. The cost of the building, upwards of 3000l., together with a handsome sum towards an endowment fund, was raised by subscription, chiefly among the inhabitants aided by a grant from the Church Building Society. The church contains upwards of 900 sittings, 600 of which are free and unappropriated.

The memorial is to Edith, Lady Maud Hastings, Countess of Loudoun, a member of the ancient Hastings family who had been important in this area for centuries. As a sort of "lady of the manor" she was much loved by the townspeople, and died at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight in 1874. It was one of the last designs by the eminent architect Gilbert Scott, and completed in 1879, the year after his death. The design is based on the Eleanor Crosses, set up by Edward I as memorials to his Queen, Eleanor of Castile, at places where her body rested on its way to London. Only three of these remain - at Geddington and Hardingstone in Northamptonshire and at Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, just outside the Essex town of Waltham Abbey. The inscription on the memorial is by Benjamin Disraeli. The Loudoun Memorial stands on the site of Gawbey's Hole, a water pump where much gossiping was wont to take place.

Share a moment with Paddington, take a selfie, and eat at least 4 marmalade sandwiches 🥰🧸

Usually cricket to enjoy at the weekend. Very peaceful place for a picnic in the summer

Nice place to visit in Ashby. You can climb the tower or explore the medieval tunnels.

It's still possible to climb the half-ruined tower to get a commanding view over the countryside.

English Heritage site.