Some Churches in Leicestershire & Rutland

St Margaret is often ranked as one of Leicestershire's most beautiful churches, and it scores highly for both exterior and interior. The church was mostly built between 1290 and 1340, which makes it in the Decorated style, and other than the chancel it hasn't been altered since.

In this photo you can see the parapets on the top of the tower and above the windows. This is the south side of the church and the windows on this side are late 13th century. You can just make out the tracery in the windows, which is 'geometric' in that it is based on fairly simple geometric forms.

These two windows are on the north side and are early 14th century. The tracery is what is called 'curvilinear' (free, curving lines), and it is clearly a little more elaborate than the 'geometric' tracery of the south side.

The interior of the church is very nice indeed. There are box pews, a Victorian screen, an early 14th century octagonal font, and a double piscina (a basin by the altar for washing communion/mass vessels). The arcade separating the nave from the south aisle has four bays and, as can be seen in the photo, really is impressive.

The capitals are adorned with a variety of foliage and faces.