Kinsham is a civil parish which lies in the wooded hills of Herefordshire, England in the Marches near to the border with Wales, about 3 miles (5 km) east of the Welsh town of Presteigne. The parish has two small settlements, Upper Kinsham and Lower Kinsham, in the east overlooking the valley of the River Lugg, which marks the parish boundary.
| Kinsham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A kart racing track near Kinsham, with Cole's Hill behind | |
  Kinsham Location within Herefordshire | |
| Population | 71 [1] |
| OS grid reference | SO358642 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PRESTEIGNE |
| Postcode district | LD8 |
| Dialling code | 01544 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Hereford and Worcester |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
The 2001 census records that 71 people lived in the parish of Kinsham, of whom 32 were male and 39 female.
History
editThere is evidence of human occupation as far back as the Bronze Age at a round barrow (SO34006400)[2]
On either 2nd or 3 February 1461 the Battle of Mortimer's Cross was fought downstream from Kinsham. In the aftermath of the battle Lancastrian soldiers retreated up the river Lugg and were trapped where the river gorge narrows at Kinsham. Local folklore states the river ran red with the blood of the soldiers when they were killed.[3]
In 1868 the village was described thus:
UPPER KINSHAM, a parish in the hundred of Wigmore, county Hereford, 3 miles N.E. of Presteigne, its post town, 7 from Kington, and 12 from Leominster. It is situated on the river Lug, and on the turnpike road from Leintwardine to Presteigne. The land is partly in hops. The soil is very inferior in quality. The living is a donative curacy in the diocese of Hereford, value £15. The church is a modern structure with a belfry. The chancel contains escutcheons of the Oxford and Mortimer families. Kinsham Court is partly in ruins. Kinsham Dingle is a favourite resort for pleasure seekers on account of its scenery. LOWER KINSHAM, a township in the parish of Presteigne, county Hereford, 2 miles E. of Presteigne. It is a small agricultural place.
The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland[4]
Kinsham Court
editThe mansion of Kinsham Court is near the village. Lord Byron lived here 1812–13 and here wrote the first two cantos of Childe Harold. Florence Nightingale spent part of her childhood at the house. Edwardian owner, Sir John Stanhope Arkwright (of the famous textiles family), wrote the hymn O Valiant Hearts.[5]
The mansion lies in a landscape park.[6]
Church
edit
The village church is next to Kinsham Court and is still regularly used. It is of 14th-century origin with evidence of 18th-century woodwork. It is an Anglican church dedicated to All Saints[7] and is a Grade II* listed building.[8]
The parish is now part of the benefice of Presteigne with Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen & Knill, with the Priest resident in Presteigne.
Recreation
editThe Herefordshire Trail long distance footpath crosses the River Lugg in the village and then climbs Cole's Hill.[9] There is a Kart racing track just west of the village.[10]
Notable residents
edit- Chaz Davies, MotoGP rider.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Herefordshire County Council Bus" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ^ Historic Herefordshire On-Line: Sites and Monuments Record database
- ^ "The Battle of Mortimer's Cross - the battlefields".
- ^ GENUKI: Upper Kinsham, Herefordshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868
- ^ "Midlands Features". Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
- ^ Historic Herefordshire On-Line: Sites and Monuments Record database
- ^ West Gallery Churches: Index for Herefordshire
- ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS (1081486)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "Titley-Leintwardine Taster Walks". Herefordshire Trail. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Kinsham Raceway Go Karting Track". UK Go-Karting. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Chaz Davies Website". Retrieved 1 February 2008.
