Kinsham

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.2729
longitude= -2.9411
population= 71 [cite web | author= | title=Herefordshire County Council Bus|url=http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/docs/2001_Parish_Populations.pdf| accessdaymonth=01 February| accessyear=2008]
official_name= Kinsham
unitary_england= Herefordshire
region= West Midlands
lieutenancy_england= Herefordshire
constituency_westminster= Leominster
post_town= PRESTEIGNE
PostCode= LD8
dial_code= 01544
os_grid_reference= SO358642The village of Kinsham lies in the wooded hills of the Marches on the border between England and Wales and near the Welsh town of Presteigne. Surrounding villages include Stapleton and Lingen. Kinsham lies on the River Lugg.

History

There is evidence of human occupation as far back as the Bronze Age at a round barrow (gbmappingsmall|SO34006400) [ [http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/hsmr/db.php?SF=1&parish_1=KINSHAM Historic Herefordshire On-Line: Sites and Monuments Record database ] ]

In 1868 the village was described thus:
cquote|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" [ [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/Kinsham/Gaz1868.html GENUKI: Upper Kinsham, Herefordshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868 ] ]

Kinsham Court

The mansion 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" [http://www.thisisthemidlands.co.uk/midlands/features/MIDLANDS_FEATURES_HTSOCB22.html]
The mansion lies in a landscape park [ [http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/hsmr/db.php/e/period_Post%20medieval/parish_Kinsham/type_Landscape%20Park Historic Herefordshire On-Line: Sites and Monuments Record database ] ] . [http://www.johnpiper.org.uk/lower-court-kinsham-herefordshire-1981.htm Picture of Kinsham Court by John Piper]

Church

The village church is redundant. It is of 14th century origin with evidence of 18th century woodwork. It is an Anglican church dedicated to All Saints [ [http://www.westgallerychurches.com/Herefs/indexherfd.html West Gallery Churches: Index for Herefordshire ] ] . The parish is now served by a parish priest at Bucknell covering Presteigne w Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen & Knill.

Notable Residents

*Chaz Davies. MotoGP rider [cite web | author= | title=Chaz Davies Website|url=http://www.chazdaviesracing.com/| accessdaymonth=01 February| accessyear=2008] .

References