<< Our Photo Pages >> St Mary and St Hardulf (Breedon on the Hill) - Ancient Cross in England in Leicestershire and Rutland
Submitted by TimPrevett on Friday, 22 March 2019 Page Views: 10406
Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: St Mary and St Hardulf (Breedon on the Hill) Alternative Name: St. Mary and St. HardulphCountry: England County: Leicestershire and Rutland Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Town: Breedon on the Hill
Map Ref: SK4055723335
Latitude: 52.806049N Longitude: 1.399816W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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I have visited· I would like to visit
Anne T visited on 15th Mar 2019 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4 St Mary & St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill: This church is visible from miles around, perched on top of its hill, which used to be an Iron Age hillfort (The Bulwarks). Most of the fortifications have been quarried away, and at the eastern side of the church there is a steep drop down into a large quarry, protected by a substantial metal fence and barbed wire. This is also the site of a beacon.
We arrived on a day when there was a weather warning for high winds, and my goodness, the winds were high. Other walkers were sitting in their cars in the small car park at the viewpoint, whilst we struggled to open the car doors and braved the winds to walk up to the south porch to let ourselves into the church! I am glad I had my husband with me, as the wind made the outer porch door rattle badly and it sounded as if a group of people were standing just outside the door having a muffled conversation. Very spooky, although the atmosphere in the church was friendly and welcoming, and I could have spent several more hours here.
There is a church guide with a plan of the stones, but not all of them are included individually. I went armed with a copy of A W Clapham's paper "The Carved Stones at Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire, and their position in the History of English Art". I had problems linking his descriptions with the actual stones, so ended up making my own drawing and labelling the stones and photo numbers, so it was easier to 'unpick' once I was at home.
I could have spent at least several more hours here, but time was pressing, and I left reluctantly, to brave the wind yet again!
The church is recorded as Pastscape Monument No. 315449, and also listed as Historic England List ID 1361364.
More information can be found in the Antiquarian paper by A.W. Clapham, entitled "The Carved Stones at Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire, and their position in the History of English Art", available for download in pdf format from the University of Leicester website. A list of further reference material can be found at The Story of St. Mary and St. Hardulph Church: References. Professor Rosemary Cramp also has a paper New Directions in the Study of Anglo Saxon Sculpture, also from the University of Leicester website, which includes information about the Breedon panels, together with details of Asfordy, Harson and Sproxton.
The church is usually unlocked during daylight hours. There is parking next to the gate into the churchyard at its eastern end. The church has its own website - see Leicestershire and Rutland Churches: Breedon on the Hill.
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
55m SE 130° The Bulwarks (Breedon on the Hill)* Hillfort (SK406233)
2.0km SW 229° Moated Mound at Breedon-on-the-Hill* Artificial Mound (SK3902822009)
3.4km SW 224° Staunton Harold's ancient village* Ancient Village or Settlement (SK3822120860)
3.6km NNW 327° Kings Newton Holy Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK38572629)
3.7km NE 45° Castle Donington hilltop mound* Long Barrow (SK432260)
5.2km NNE 12° Aston Cursus Cursus (SK416284)
5.3km NNE 13° Aston Cursus Cursus (SK417285)
5.4km S 176° Griffy's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK4118)
5.7km SE 127° Belton Banjo enclosure* Causewayed Enclosure (SK45161997)
5.7km SSE 152° Grace Dieu Priory Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SK433183)
6.7km WNW 287° Hangman's Stone (Ingleby)* Marker Stone (SK34162524)
6.8km WNW 293° Heath Wood, Ingleby* Artificial Mound (SK34222591)
7.0km NNE 17° Aston Cursus Cursus (SK426300)
7.3km SSE 148° Swanimote Hill* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SK445172)
7.4km NNW 327° Swarkestone Lows* Barrow Cemetery (SK365295)
7.6km SSE 158° Whitwick Spring* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK435163)
7.7km WNW 301° Anchor Church* Cave or Rock Shelter (SK3390827236)
8.1km SE 145° Altar Stone, Whitwick* Modern Stone Circle etc (SK453168)
8.3km NE 50° Lockington Cursus Cursus (SK469287)
8.8km NW 305° Round Hill Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SK33342832)
9.0km SW 236° Blackfordby Spring* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SK331182)
9.6km SE 141° Hanging Stone (Leicestershire) Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SK467160)
9.9km SE 133° Grey Hangman Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SK47951665)
10.2km SE 143° Stone nr Oaks in Charnwood* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SK46721523)
10.3km WNW 303° Findern Cursus Cursus (SK319289)
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