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Holidays in Breedon-on-the-Hill
Ancient roots: Breedon Hill, locally known as The Bulwarks, was first fortified in the late Bronze to early Iron Age (c. 800–450?BC), later reinforced with ramparts in the 2nd–3rd centuries?BC
Anglo-Saxon minster: Founded around AD?675–676 under King Æthelred of Mercia on the hilltop. The monastery housed early saints and produced outstanding stone carvings. It was destroyed in a Danish raid in 874?AD
Augustinian priory: Around 1120, it became an Augustinian priory connected to Nostell Priory in Yorkshire. The nave and north aisle survive today as the parish church
Shirley legacy & later periods: After the Dissolution in 1539 the Shirley family purchased the manor and interior monuments, including a life-size alabaster skeleton tomb, remain in the church today
Breedon Priory Church
Architectural significance: The Church of St Mary and St Hardulph (Grade?I listed) sits atop the hill within the ancient fort. It contains the largest and finest collection of Anglo-Saxon sculptures in England, including rare carvings of figures, animals, and the famed “Breedon Angel”
Inside highlights: Beautiful Renaissance monuments, a 17th-century Shirley family box pew, and repurposed Saxon stones in the Norman doorway
Nature & Walking Trails
Breedon Hill SSSI: A 5.3-hectare site of special scientific interest, supporting species-rich carboniferous limestone flora—bulbous buttercup, harebell, burnet saxifrage, musk thistle, and hairy violet—along footpaths connecting the village and church
Surrounding walks & cycleways: Nearby routes include the former Midland Railway trackbed now part of National Cycle Route 6, plus trails through Calke Abbey estate, Grace Dieu Woods, Sence Valley Park, and more
Typical Food & Local Shops
Village pubs: There are two local pubs—The Holly Bush and The Three Horseshoes—perfect for classic British fare and local ales
Local shops: The village has a post office with shop, formerly a butcher’s closed in 2017. No full supermarket; nearest amenities are in nearby towns like Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Local produce: While there’s no dedicated food festival in Breedon itself, the region around Leicestershire offers farmers’ markets and fresh local goods
Activities & Festivals
May Day tradition: A unique pagan-inspired May Day event where locals gather before dawn to dance “The Sun Up,” followed by music, food and socialising—though it may not run every year—check ahead via Scragfolk or local groups
Community life: Village football via Breedon FC, occasional local gatherings, and a sense of close-knit rural community spirit
Local Amenities & Heritage Sites
Village lock-up: An 18th-century stone lock-up and animal pound—once used to detain drunks or stray livestock, now a quirky Grade II listed relic
Breedon Hall: Historic Georgian-fronted house once home to the Curzon family; now private accommodation or occasional B&B—worth seeing from outside
Summary Table
Category Highlights
History Hillfort origins, Anglo-Saxon minster, Medieval priory, Shirley family
Nature Species-rich limestone flora, footpaths, panoramic views
Food & Shops Two traditional pubs; post office shop
Activities May Day dance, village football, countryside walks, cycling
Heritage Sites Priory Church, village lock-up, Breedon Hall
Visiting Tips
Getting there: About 5?mi north of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, near the Derbyshire border. By car, there's parking in the village and near the church; can also walk up the hill
Best time: Spring to early autumn for wildflowers and May Day, or any clear day for views across Leicestershire.
What to bring: Comfortable shoes for hill and footpath walking, a picnic to enjoy panoramic scenes, and a camera to capture the splendid church sculptures.
Breedon-on-the-Hill wonderfully blends ancient layers of history—from an Iron Age hillfort to an Anglo-Saxon monastic centre—with stunning countryside, rural traditions, and a peaceful sense of place. If you're planning to visit or just curious about villages off the beaten path in Great Britain, it’s a hidden gem worth exploring.
Anglo-Saxon minster: Founded around AD?675–676 under King Æthelred of Mercia on the hilltop. The monastery housed early saints and produced outstanding stone carvings. It was destroyed in a Danish raid in 874?AD
Augustinian priory: Around 1120, it became an Augustinian priory connected to Nostell Priory in Yorkshire. The nave and north aisle survive today as the parish church
Shirley legacy & later periods: After the Dissolution in 1539 the Shirley family purchased the manor and interior monuments, including a life-size alabaster skeleton tomb, remain in the church today
Breedon Priory Church
Architectural significance: The Church of St Mary and St Hardulph (Grade?I listed) sits atop the hill within the ancient fort. It contains the largest and finest collection of Anglo-Saxon sculptures in England, including rare carvings of figures, animals, and the famed “Breedon Angel”
Inside highlights: Beautiful Renaissance monuments, a 17th-century Shirley family box pew, and repurposed Saxon stones in the Norman doorway
Nature & Walking Trails
Breedon Hill SSSI: A 5.3-hectare site of special scientific interest, supporting species-rich carboniferous limestone flora—bulbous buttercup, harebell, burnet saxifrage, musk thistle, and hairy violet—along footpaths connecting the village and church
Surrounding walks & cycleways: Nearby routes include the former Midland Railway trackbed now part of National Cycle Route 6, plus trails through Calke Abbey estate, Grace Dieu Woods, Sence Valley Park, and more
Typical Food & Local Shops
Village pubs: There are two local pubs—The Holly Bush and The Three Horseshoes—perfect for classic British fare and local ales
Local shops: The village has a post office with shop, formerly a butcher’s closed in 2017. No full supermarket; nearest amenities are in nearby towns like Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Local produce: While there’s no dedicated food festival in Breedon itself, the region around Leicestershire offers farmers’ markets and fresh local goods
Activities & Festivals
May Day tradition: A unique pagan-inspired May Day event where locals gather before dawn to dance “The Sun Up,” followed by music, food and socialising—though it may not run every year—check ahead via Scragfolk or local groups
Community life: Village football via Breedon FC, occasional local gatherings, and a sense of close-knit rural community spirit
Local Amenities & Heritage Sites
Village lock-up: An 18th-century stone lock-up and animal pound—once used to detain drunks or stray livestock, now a quirky Grade II listed relic
Breedon Hall: Historic Georgian-fronted house once home to the Curzon family; now private accommodation or occasional B&B—worth seeing from outside
Summary Table
Category Highlights
History Hillfort origins, Anglo-Saxon minster, Medieval priory, Shirley family
Nature Species-rich limestone flora, footpaths, panoramic views
Food & Shops Two traditional pubs; post office shop
Activities May Day dance, village football, countryside walks, cycling
Heritage Sites Priory Church, village lock-up, Breedon Hall
Visiting Tips
Getting there: About 5?mi north of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, near the Derbyshire border. By car, there's parking in the village and near the church; can also walk up the hill
Best time: Spring to early autumn for wildflowers and May Day, or any clear day for views across Leicestershire.
What to bring: Comfortable shoes for hill and footpath walking, a picnic to enjoy panoramic scenes, and a camera to capture the splendid church sculptures.
Breedon-on-the-Hill wonderfully blends ancient layers of history—from an Iron Age hillfort to an Anglo-Saxon monastic centre—with stunning countryside, rural traditions, and a peaceful sense of place. If you're planning to visit or just curious about villages off the beaten path in Great Britain, it’s a hidden gem worth exploring.
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