Several building phases come together at Kinnersley Castle: the present building was erected towards the end of the 16th century on the site of an earlier building. Rooms with oak panelling are also part of the property. The kitchen garden walls belonging to the castle probably date from the 18th century. They are about 15 to 20 feet high and feature several curved ramps. Thus, the Castle brings together a building history reaching back to an earlier structure and a part of the estate that is probably more recent.
Architecture and remembrance in Kinnersley
The Kinnersley War Memorial adds another perspective to the village’s historical themes. It commemorates the First World War and was later extended with additions relating to the Second World War. It takes the form of an obelisk and is made of Aberdeen granite. Its commemoration, form and stone each describe a different aspect of the same memorial.
St James also brings together a range of architectural details. The church has a blocked Norman doorway with a Perpendicular window above the arch. The pulpit has carved panels with allegorical figures, probably Flemish in origin and dated to around 1530. The doorway, window and pulpit each offer a different way to explore the church’s architectural and decorative features.
Comparing three Kinnersley walks
The designated walks differ both in length and in the places they include. Kinnersley Walk 1 is 5 km long and is associated with St James’ Church, Ailey and Newtown. Walk 2 covers 4 km through The Sturts and Kinley. Walk 6 runs for 7.5 km from Kinnersley to Almeley and back.
By distance, Walk 2 is the shortest of the three and Walk 6 the longest; Walk 1 is between them. The places named offer another point of comparison: while Walk 1 is associated with St James’ Church, Ailey and Newtown, Walk 2 passes through The Sturts and Kinley. Walk 6 names Almeley as the destination on its out-and-back route. This makes it possible to choose based on the desired distance and the places listed for each route. As route conditions may change, check them before setting out.
St James on foot and by bike
St James’ Church is also a shared reference point for walking and cycling. In addition to its connection with the 5 km Kinnersley Walk 1, the “Cycling through the Black & White Villages” cycling route includes St James Church in Kinnersley as stop 9. This provides a concrete way to compare the cultural focus of the walking routes with a cycling theme, without treating the two routes as the same. The walks can be distinguished by their distances and places; for the cycling route, the stop at the church is the named point of connection.
Kinnersley offers several different themes for planning a trip: the Castle and its kitchen garden walls, the details of St James, the War Memorial, and routes with clearly named distances and stops. Those particularly interested in architecture will find several individual features, from the window above the blocked doorway to the pulpit’s carved panels. When choosing a walk, however, the first considerations are the 4, 5 or 7.5 km distances and the places listed for each route.
Discover more destinations: Pontrilas, Hereford, Ross-On-Wye, Burghill, Whitestone, Lugwardine, Burley Gate, Clehonger.
For the broader travel overview: County Of Herefordshire.
