St Helen
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
The story of St Helen's is very much tied to the story of the ruined castle just to the south as both castle and church were built in the 1470s by Lord Hastings.
Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
He was involved in 15th century politics and was beheaded in the Tower of London on the orders of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who very shortly became Richard III.
Much of the 15th century church remains, but considerable changes and additions were made by architect JpPSt Aubyn between 1878 and 1880.
There is a great deal of interest to be seen inside the church, perhaps particularly in the Hastings Chapel.
Among the many monuments here is a splendid alabaster tomb to the Second Earl of Huntingdon and his wife from about 1561. Around the base of the tomb little figures called mourners, each one different from the other, are separated by elaborate shields. There is also a monument to Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, who, in 1783, founded an evangelical movement called the Huntingdon Connexion.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Packington, Leicestershire