Welcome to Kinver

Welcome to Kinver

The beautiful village of Kinver is in the far south-west of the County of Staffordshire bordering the counties of Worcestershire,  Shropshire and the West Midlands.  The nearest towns are Stourbridge in the West Midlands, and Kidderminster in Worcestershire.  Bridgnorth, a popular tourist attraction lies to the North-West.

Brief History

The village of Kinver was first mentioned in the doomsday book prepared for William the Conqueror,  published in 1086.    However, an iron age fort at Kinver Edge overlooking the village, confirms that the area has been populated for many centuries.  

Whilst there is no evidence of Roman settlement in Kinver, the path of a roman road leading to passes through the parish from Stourton to the site of a Roman fort at Greensforge, near the Navigation pub.  However, local folklore suggests that a Roman bath may have existed in Bath Lane.  Greenforge was an important roman garrison to protect the main route to the City of Chester from invasion by Caradoc in AD47 and accomodated  around 3000 gladiators to defend agianst allies of Boudicca  in AD60.  Further information can be obtained here

Cave dwellings abound in Kinver and the environs, and the Rock Houses at Kinver edge, owned by the National Trust, are the oldest occupied caves in Europe.  Prehistoric tools have been found in the cave houses in nearby Wolverley.  Perhaps local knowledge led to the construcion of secret underground aircraft factory in WWII, which became the nuclear shelter for the regional seat of government. Unfortunately, the site fell into disrepair, and has been stripped out for paintball war games.

 The centre of the village was planned in the 13th century, and the original burgage plots along the High Street remain today.   The village was within Kinver Forest, and nearby Stourton Castle was the Royal Hunting lodge and Royal Forester’s lodge for King John.   Kinver Forest was part of a large forest which included  Wyre and Morfe Forests.    Whilst the forest is a shadow of it’s once large expanse, Kinver can be easilly located with good accuracy in Google Earth from a great height.  The pub on Bridgnorth Road at the Ridge on the boundarywith Stourbridge is called the ”Forester’s Inn”

During the Civil War, there was a small cavalry battle between “Tinker Fox” of  Stourton Castle, and Prince Rupert, who was staying at Wollescote Hall, near Stourbridge.   Whilst Stourton Castle remains, Wollescote Hall was later dismantled and shipped to the United States in the early 20th Century.   The pub on the Bridgnorth Road is called the Fox Inn. 

Kinver was on the major  coaching route to Chester,  and a large Coaching Inn, Ye Old White Harte Hotel,   accomodated weary travellers.   The Hotel had large stabling, and was a regular meeting place for the hunt.   The builing remains a public house, but is no longer a Hotel with guest accomodation.

Picture Thanks to Des Sanders. Copies available on request

There are 22 listed buildings in Kinver, including St Peters Church which sits on the hill overlooking Kinver, dating from the 12th century, and many timber framed houses and inns.

Industrialisation

In medieval times, the main industry was cloth, which was hung out to dry on the banks below St Peters Church.  With the advent of water power,  flour and malt mills were built using water wheels driven by the flow of the River Stour.  The industrial revolution brought iron and nail making to the village, which continued until the early 20th century at the Hyde.     The Staffordshire and Worcesteshire canal was built to bring raw materials to the iron works.

Tourism

Kinver has been a popular tourist attraction since Victorian times.  In the early 20th Century,  a Light Railway brought thousands of visitors to the village each day.    Today, visitors come to visit the Rock Houses, or to walk at Kinver edge which are owned by the National Trust.  The Staffordshire and Worcester canal passes through the village, and narrow boats are moared along the canal between Kinver and Hyde lock.

Kinver was designated a  Conservation Area in February 1970,  and is a previous winner of the “Best Kept Village” in Staffordshire.

Additional Reading