Kinsham
Encyclopedia
The village of Kinsham lies in the wooded hills of Herefordshire
, England
in the Marches
near to the border with Wales
and near the town of Presteigne
. Surrounding villages include Stapleton
and Lingen
. Kinsham lies on the River Lugg
. The 2001 census records that 71 people lived in the parish of Kinsham, of whom 32 were male and 39 female.
at a round barrow
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.
In 1868 the village was described thus:
The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland
of Kinsham Court is near the village. Byron lived here 1812-1813 and here wrote the first two cantos of Childe Harold. Florence Nightingale
spent part of her childhood at the house. Edwardian owner, Sir John Arkwright (of the famous textiles family), wrote the hymn
O Valiant Hearts.
The mansion lies in a landscape park. Picture of Kinsham Court by John Piper
. The parish is now part of the benefice of Presteigne with Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen & Knill, with the Priest resident in Presteigne.
long distance footpath
crosses the River Lugg
in the village and then climbs Cole's Hill. There is a Kart racing
track just west of the village.
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the Marches
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
near to the border with Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and near the town of Presteigne
Presteigne
Presteigne is a town and community in Powys, Wales. It was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, and is in the Diocese of Hereford...
. Surrounding villages include Stapleton
Stapleton, Herefordshire
Stapleton is a small hamlet and civil parish in Herefordshire near the Welsh border town of Presteigne. The hamlet itself has approximately 25 residents as well as the ruins of a medieval castle.-History:...
and Lingen
Lingen, Herefordshire
The village of Lingen lies in the wooded hills of Herefordshire, England in the Welsh Marches near to the border with Wales and close to the village of Wigmore. Situated in the north-west corner of the county, Lingen parish includes the hamlets of Deerfold, Limebrook, Birtley and Willey...
. Kinsham lies on the River Lugg
River Lugg
The River Lugg , rises near Llangynllo, Powys. It flows through the border town of Presteigne, Wales then through Herefordshire, England, including the town of Leominster, south of which it is met by a tributary, the River Arrow, then to a confluence with the River Wye, which it joins at Mordiford,...
. The 2001 census records that 71 people lived in the parish of Kinsham, of whom 32 were male and 39 female.
History
There is evidence of human occupation as far back as the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
at a round barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
On either 2nd or 3 February 1461 the Battle of Mortimer's Cross
Battle of Mortimer's Cross
The Battle of Mortimer's Cross was fought on 2 February 1461 near Wigmore, Herefordshire . It was part of the Wars of the Roses....
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.
In 1868 the village was described thus:
The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland
Kinsham Court
The mansionMansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
of Kinsham Court is near the village. Byron lived here 1812-1813 and here wrote the first two cantos of Childe Harold. Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
spent part of her childhood at the house. Edwardian owner, Sir John Arkwright (of the famous textiles family), wrote the hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
O Valiant Hearts.
The mansion lies in a landscape park. Picture of Kinsham Court by John Piper
Church
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 SaintsAll Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
. The parish is now part of the benefice of Presteigne with Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen & Knill, with the Priest resident in Presteigne.
Recreation
The Herefordshire TrailHerefordshire Trail
The Herefordshire Trail is a long distance footpath forming a circular walk in the English county of Herefordshire.- Route & Distance :The Herefordshire Trail runs for 154 miles and forms a circular tour of the county of Herefordshire....
long distance footpath
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
crosses the River Lugg
River Lugg
The River Lugg , rises near Llangynllo, Powys. It flows through the border town of Presteigne, Wales then through Herefordshire, England, including the town of Leominster, south of which it is met by a tributary, the River Arrow, then to a confluence with the River Wye, which it joins at Mordiford,...
in the village and then climbs Cole's Hill. There is a Kart racing
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
track just west of the village.