Kinsham

History

There is evidence of human occupation as far back as the Bronze Age 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:

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

Kinsham Court

The 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.

The mansion lies in a landscape park.

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 Saints and is a Grade II* listed building.

The parish is now part of the benefice of Presteigne with Discoed, Kinsham, Lingen & Knill, with the Priest resident in Presteigne.

Recreation

The Herefordshire Trail 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, where the Moto3 team MLav Racing is based.

Notable residents

• Chaz Davies, MotoGP rider.

References

References

1. "Herefordshire County Council Bus".
2. [http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/hsmr/db.php?SF=1&parish_1=KINSHAM Historic Herefordshire On-Line: Sites and Monuments Record database]
3. "The Battle of Mortimer's Cross - the battlefields".
4. [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/Kinsham/Gaz1868.html GENUKI: Upper Kinsham, Herefordshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868]
5. "Midlands Features".
6. [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]
7. [http://www.westgallerychurches.com/Herefs/indexherfd.html West Gallery Churches: Index for Herefordshire]
8. {{NHLE
9. "Titley-Leintwardine Taster Walks". [[Herefordshire Trail]].
10. "Kinsham Raceway Go Karting Track". UK Go-Karting.
11. . (1 February 2025). ["MLAV RACING LTD"](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13173982).
12. "Chaz Davies Website".