SK6617 : Church of All Saints, Hoby
taken 10 years ago, near to Hoby, Leicestershire, England
The present church was largely built around 1216 and much of the work from this period survives. It consists of nave with north and south aisles, chancel and west tower.
The tower, nave and aisles date from the original period and are in Early English style, the aisle arcade columns showing refined detailing. The clerestory is a typical Perpendicular addition of the late 14th century, and the spire was added at around the same period. This may also be the date of the north aisle which was rebuilt at some point. The chancel was extended and rebuilt in the 19th century, and further fitted out in the early 20th century as a memorial to the Beresford family, including the rood screen in Perpendicular style and the glass in the east window.
Inside, the detailing of the arcades is worthy of note. The font is probably contemporary with the building of the church, and there is an arcaded piscina and sedilia group of the same period in the south aisle. This aisle was designed as a chantry for the Villiers family, and the much defaced monumental brass is considered to depict a member of that family. On the west wall of the nave is a Royal Coat of Arms from the reign of George III. The style is that in use between 1760 and 1800.
The church is Listed Grade I.
The churchyard contains a medieval cross, Listed Grade II and also a scheduled monument. There are also a number of early slate gravestone from the late 17th and early 18th centuries, including some of the Belvoir angel type.