Church of St Mary Magdalene

CHURCH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, CHURCH LANE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Explore this list entry

Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1061491
Date first listed:
11-Jan-1955
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary Magdalene
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, CHURCH LANE
User submitted image
Contributed by ChurchCare This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Over 400,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
View all

Location

Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places. 

There is a problem

Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

What is the National Heritage List for England?

The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

The list includes:

Icon Buildings
Icon Scheduled monuments
Icon Parks and gardens
Icon Battlefields
Icon Shipwrecks

Find out more about listing

Images of England Project

To view this image please use Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2001-06-30
Reference:
IOE01/06112/05
Rights:
© Mr Ian Paterson. Source: Historic England Archive

Local Heritage Hub

Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.

Discover more

Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1061491
Date first listed:
11-Jan-1955
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary Magdalene
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, CHURCH LANE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE, CHURCH LANE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Leicestershire
District:
Harborough (District Authority)
Parish:
Shearsby
National Grid Reference:
SP 62324 90989

Details

SHEARSBY SP69 SW CHURCH LANE (South Side)

1/87 Church of St. Mary Magdalene

11.1.55

GV II*

Parish Church. Very little of a medieval building survives, since the church was extensively restored by Ordish c1880. The tower, however, was built in 1789. Limestone ashlar to tower, the rest of random granite rubble with limestone dressings. Two stage tower is an odd mixture of classical and gothic allusion, with two-centred arched windows to ground floor with wood Y-tracery and a similar window in the second stage, but with a Gibbs surround. The second stage has stepped pedestal and angle pilasters and is divided by a sill band, above which is an oculus, and it is surmounted by a small octagonal stump with oculi. The west facade is the show piece with C18 wood panelled door in architrave with splayed voussoirs and stressed keystone. Above it is an inscription plate and a quatrefoil recess, and this is all contained in an ogival arch, itself set beneath a pediment. The inscription records that "this steeple was re-built at the expense of the landowners of this lordship A.D. 1789". The west walls of the nave reveal medieval masonary overlaid by C18 ashlar work which contains elegant niches. The remains of the original wall form a short buttress at the angle which is surmounted by a winged dragon gargoyle. The rest is Victorian with plinths, buttresses and tracery in an early Decorated style with grouped lancets. South door with continuous moulding within porch. Steeply pitched roofs with plain tiles. East wall also of medieval fabric: cobblestones and a dragon gargoyle. The window, however, is an insertion as is the small quatrefoil in the gable apex. Blocked door to north and a solitary corbel with angry beast's head. Inside, a single space with C18 square headed doorway and blocked window above to tower. Other features are all Victorian. Scissor braced rafter roof. Wood chancel screen however is C15 with square panels with foiled decoration and central ogival arch with cusping. C14 sedilia in chancel with cylindrical shaft and trefoiled head: The moulding is heavy and inaccurately set out. Piscina in similar style. Stained glass in chancel east window of 1885, in a painterly style. Glass also in north aisle of 1856-7 depicting the Resurrection and a Miracle story, these in a more medieval manner. Victorian fittings include benches, heavy stone pulpit and font.

Listing NGR: SP6232490989

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
191308
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Church of St Mary Magdalene

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 10:46:27.

Download a full scale map (PDF)
© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Previous Overview
Next Comments and Photos