The Church of St Mary de Castro is within both the
Castle Conservation Area and the Leicester Castle Ancient Monument. It was listed grade B in January 1950, and the listing was revised to grade 1 in July 1997. Reference number: 2/26.
Description of the ChurchFounded ca.1100-1110 by the first Earl of Leicester as a collegiate chapel attached to the castle, with remains of the original in the nave with interior and exterior blank arcading. The north wall of chancel also survives with moulded arch windows with zig zag surrounds.
The church was enlarged ca.1160 with fine chancel having windows with zigzag and spiral decoration to shafts and zigzag in round arches, corbel-table, C19 Norman-style east windows. C14 chancel roof with collar-beams and arched braces. The chancel contains very fine late C12 Sedilia and Piscina. Norman north doorway to vestry. Remains of C13 south aisle, altered and widened in late C13 with geometrical tracery to windows in south wall, large east window of circa 1300. Norman north aisle replaced in late C13 and arcade and north windows rebuilt in 1850. Late C12 north doorway with scalloped capitals and zigzag in arches. Tower of circa 1300 with bell-openings flanked by blank arches with frieze above, battlements and pinnacles and recessed spire (rebuilt in 1783) with crockets and lucarnes. C13 font, Norman altar in north transept. C14 tiles. Monument: 1813 The Rev T Robinson by Bacon junior. Including Victorian churchyard railings at west end of church on low stone plinth with small piers with gabled heads. Parclose screen of C19 made from old material.
Extensively restored in 1850-61 by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
