St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford

[2] The church was built in 1783, having been designed by George Richardson for Robert Sherard, 4th Earl of Harborough.

[2] Its plan consists of a three-bay nave, north and south transepts, a chancel and a west tower containing a porch.

The tower is in three stages on a moulded plinth, with string courses, a frieze, and cornices, one of which is carved with Romanesque-style decoration.

[1] Around the exterior of the church are carved heraldic shields containing arms of the families married to the Sherards.

The nave has a plaster coved ceiling, with an arcaded cornice, fluted brackets, and is decorated with a lozenge pattern.

At the east end of the chancel is a dado and a frieze, and a central marble reredos, inlaid with the motif of an anchor, and surmounted by a pediment and an urn.

The chest bears two life-size reclining effigies and is carved with images of eleven children.

The first Earl and his wife and child. By Rysbrack