2024

SK8118 : Sherard Memorial, St Mary Magdalen church, Stapleford

taken 2 years ago, near to Stapleford, Leicestershire, England

Sherard Memorial, St Mary Magdalen church, Stapleford
Sherard Memorial, St Mary Magdalen church, Stapleford
Memorial to Bennet Sherard, Earl of Harborough, d.1732 aged 55, and his wife Mary (Calverley) with their only son. Mary died in childbirth in 1702, the child died in infancy. Without heirs Bennet was succeeded by his cousin Philip as 2nd Earl.
Bennet was Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, and M.P. for Leicester and Rutland.

The superb monument shows the couple with him in Roman dress. His wife sits at his feet with their child on her lap. Behind them are portrait medallions and the coat of arms at the top. The group is beautifully modelled.
It was sculpted by Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770).
St Mary Magdalen church, Stapleford

Grade I listed

There was a church present In the 13th century, then the patronage was transferred to George Sherard in the 16th century. In 1650 the South aisle was rebuilt, the current church was built in 1783 by George Richardson for the 4th Earl of Harborough, Robert Sherard.

It stands in the grounds of the Hall, and this fine church is built in a restrained Gothic style with a west tower, nave, and chancel with transepts.

It is furnished like a college chapel, with the pews facing each other, and on the west end there is a gallery, with the family pew of the Earls, which has its own fireplace.

The church contains several monuments to the Sherard family, with a large monument to the first Lord Sherard by Rysbrack.
There are also several busts to members of the Sherard family on the south wall. The sculptors are unrecorded.

There is a brass to Geoffrey Sherard from 1490 depicting him and his wife with 14 children

The church is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, and was restored in 1967.


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Geographical Context: Religious sites Primary Subject: Memorial Monument Place: Stapleford Church: St Mary Magdalen other tags: Rysbrack Monument Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Other Photos: · Detail of Memorial, St Mary Magdalen church, Stapleford ·
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SK8118, 78 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Julian P Guffogg   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 17 July, 2024   (more nearby)
Submitted
Saturday, 20 July, 2024
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SK 8117 1820 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:45.3195N 0:47.9244W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SK 8117 1820
View Direction
North-northeast (about 22 degrees)
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Image Type (about): close look  inside 
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