St Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Bottesford, known affectionately as ‘The Lady of the Vale’, is the tallest and largest village church in Leicestershire. Standing on the site of Old Beckingthorpe Church, parts of the present building date from the late 12th century. Bottesford is indeed fortunate to possess one of the most interesting and appealing churches for miles around, graced with cornices, pinnacles, niches, corbels and gargoyles. The church houses a remarkable collection of tombs and monuments including the only UK tomb to record a death by witchcraft. This significant collection, one of the finest to be found in England, helps trace its history from the crusades to the Tudor and Stuart dynasties.