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Staunton Harold Church
Imposing church built in 1653, with fine panelled interior
Staunton Harold Estate, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 1RW
Opening times for 23 April 2025
Asset Opening time Church Closed Staunton Harold Church is open from 5 April – 26 October. Self-led visits are available on select days. Guided tours are also available on Sundays. Visit the things to see and do article to find out more and book.
MTWTFSS311234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829301234OpenPartially openClosed- Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs are welcome in the church.
- Car park
Parking is in the main visitor car park for the Ferrers Centre - the walk to the church is approximately 5 - 10 minutes.
Toilets (not National Trust), 500 yards from Church. Step to entrance, ramp available. Ground floor has steps.
- Drop-off point
It may be possible to drop off visitors closer to the church, by prior arrangement only.
- Induction loop
A portable induction loop is available, on request in advance of a tour.
- Ramped access/slopes
Ramped access can be gained into the church upon request.
- Seating available
Visitors are welcome to sit in the wooden pews.
- Steps/uneven terrain
Only the ground floor of the church is open for public access. There is a low step into the church. The church floor is historic flagstones and can be uneven in places. There are two steps in the chancel in front of the alter and low steps into the pews.
- By road
Staunton Harold Church is located near the Ferrers Centre, between Ashby de la Zouch and Melbourne, off B587. From Leicester take A50 onto A511, or take the A511 from Melbourne, Burton on Trent or Swadlincote. Follow the brown signs with the anvil symbol to the Staunton Harold Estate.
Parking: Parking is in the estate car park (not NT) - charges apply at weekends and bank holidays only. Once parked, directions to the church are located in the corner of the estate car park.
Sat Nav: Use postcode LE65 1RW and look out for the brown tourist signs with the anvil symbol.
- Cycling
Staunton Harold Estate, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 1RW
Planning your visit
Article
Accessibility at Staunton Harold Church
Discover what accessibility features we have at Staunton Harold Church to help you enjoy your visit.
Discover more on a guided tour
Uncover the rebellious history behind this lavish church on a guided tour. Hear stories of the Shirely family who built the church, get up-close to its striking gothic architecture and learn how it became a symbol of defiance.
Highlights
Church
Imposing 17th-century church built in 1653, with a fine panelled interior.
Spotlight events
Discover more on a guided tour
Uncover the rebellious history behind this lavish church on a guided tour. Hear stories of the Shirely family who built the church, get up-close to its striking gothic architecture and learn how it became a symbol of defiance.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to see and do at Staunton Harold Church
Discover Staunton Harold Church, a rare and important church, which tells the tales of a turbulent time in English history.
Places to stay
Heath End Lodge
A former gatehouse to Calke Abbey, this cottage now stands in a peaceful backwater.
Thatch Cottage
A beautifully restored thatched cottage with a modern rustic interior, set within Calke Abbey.
Wicket Nook Cottage
A cosy cottage packed full of character features and with stunning views over the Calke Estate.
Southwood House Farm
The perfect get-together pad with seven bedrooms, a large garden and miles of parkland walks.
Upcoming events
Event
Built in defiance: uncover the rebellious history behind Staunton Harold Church on a guided tour
Discover how one country church became a bold statement of royalist resistance during England's Commonwealth on a guided tour.
About Staunton Harold Church
Staunton Harold Church rises above a lake whose tranquil waters reflect the beauty of north-west Leicestershire’s gently rolling hills. It is a picture of rural peace and contentment. But you need not look far to find a very different story from England’s most turbulent times.
Built in 1653 on the instructions of Sir Robert Shirley Fourth Baronet, this is a rare building of its time, an era known as the Commonwealth Period, when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of England.
Building this chapel was Sir Robert’s way of standing up for ‘all thinges sacred’ as he saw it: the High Anglican Church and the God-given right of the monarch to rule.
Staunton Harold Church, or the Chapel of the Holy Trinity as it is also known, is a fine example of Gothic style, which continued into the middle of the seventeenth century. The oak box pews and wood panelling are made from local oak by the Melbourne joiner William Smith. William also created the pulpit, the Jacobean-style panelling in the chancel and the original chancel screen which now stands beneath the organ loft.
History
Article
The Chapel of the Holy Trinity at Staunton Harold
Discover the fascinating history of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity at Staunton Harold and how building the Chapel cost Sir Robert Shirley his life.
Our work
Article
Restoring Staunton Harold Church
Over the last few years, we've undertaken essential building and repair works at the church, to ensure that this place of reflection can be enjoyed for many years to come.
Art and collections
Staunton Harold Church's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Staunton Harold Church on the National Trust Collections website.