Kington
Kington is an attractive market town located close to the Welsh border on the River Arrow. Famous for its cattle markets, annual September show and autumn sheep sales. The town's medieval origins have left a grid-street pattern of close-packed buildings with narrow courtyards and alleyways.
Kington Town Centre © Des Blenkinsopp (CC2)
In ancient times the town suffered threat of attack for many centuries due to its location on the Welsh Marches. Kington Castle was destroyed many years ago but on Wapley Hill, to the north-east, are remains of earthworks believed to be the fortifications of King Caractacus.
The Church of St Mary is an interesting Norman structure with good Early English work, which can be found on a steep hill at the top of Church Road. The Old Gospel House in Harp Yard (off the High Street) has close associations with John Wesley who wrote many of his sermons there.
A narrow road north from the town leads up to a viewpoint on Bradnor Hill. Nearby on Rushock Hill is a well-preserved section of Offa's Dyke, the old Mercian defence against the Welsh. This section of the fortifications, which ran for some 180 miles from the Severn Estuary to Prestatyn, are particularly well-preserved.
Just outside Kington is the Vaughans' 18th-c Hergest Court, said to be haunted by the ghost of a black blood-hound and by Vaughan himself. Noted for its beautiful azaleas and rhododendrons the fortified manor-house is set in 50 acres of mature trees, shrubs and rare plants collected from all over the world. The delightful gardens are open to the public from March to October.
Map of Kington
The Midlands
