House Farm, the Old Barn and Woodbine Cottage are opposite and as the road dips down into the village the church can be glimpsed behind the mature trees that border its north and west walls. As the visitor proceeds along the road such cottages as Primrose, Highfield and Laburnum Cottage grace the sides with their unspoilt red brick and tile construction and well kept gardens. Further along Manor Farm and Glen Farm, working farms, display wonderful building features such as working sash windows. The Manor Farmhouse is Grade II listed. Since 1994 Freeby has been under the protection of the Freeby Conservation Area which covers 3.38 hectares sand was designated by Melton Borough Council. The settlement is relatively unspoilt as an agricultural village, certainly worthy of preservation and its buildings and rural nature are a credit to English Heritage. Most of the village, other than some farm buildings, are encompassed in the conservation area. Parish church The oldest parts of the Church of England parish church of St Mary are 14th century. The building is mostly in an Early English style. The parish register starts around 1604 but is fragmented until the beginning of the 19th century. Like so many medieval churches it has been repaired and altered many times, the last thorough restoration around 1894. As with many churches in this area it is built of ironstone and limestone ashlar. The aisles were added some time later and the limestone tower was built in the 16th century. Ornamental medieval corbels adorn each south window and the church has a north door. The church is on a prominence on the north side of the road through the village and that is apparently its downfall. That hill is not solid rock and, according to a BBC video is sand which has resulted to constant repairs throughout the last 700 years as the church settles. The church would seat 200 but it has been closed for some time because of its small congregation and its state of repair. English Heritage, after a survey of churches say, "The church serves a small community, who have maintained it extremely well over the years, but some of the stonework needs urgent repairs. English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund is providing a scheme of repair grants to places of worship like St Mary's.” The church has been found unsafe and closed. Photographs in the gallery