History
General Information
|
Population |
| Total Population |
30.4% |
| No. Over 60 |
20.6% |
| No. Under 18 |
|
| No. BME |
|
| Indices of Deprivation |
|
| Area KM2 |
|
| Population Density KM2 |
|
| Financial
Information |
| Annual Budget |
|
| Annual Precept |
£144,709.00 |
| Grants Received |
|
| Spending per Resident |
|
| Average Council Tax Band |
£44.70 |
Kinver
Kinver is very rich in Royal and ancient history, and its name
is derived from ‘Chene Vare,’ meaning ‘A Royal Rose.’ The village
lies at the foot of a straggling range of hills. These hills were
much used in ancient times as observation points and strong posts
for the defence of the locality.
The Romans used the hills for that purpose and there are still
traces of a large Roman Camp on Kinver Edge, 300 yards long and 180
yards wide. Wulphere, the first Christian King of Mercia, fortified
Kinver Edge during the 7th century and there are still
traces of these early defensive earthworks.
From the 7th century until the Norman Conquest the
earl who ruled Mercia owned the land. After the Norman Conquest the
Norman kings made it a ‘Royal Manor and Forest.’ The forests were
much used by King John during his reign who, when hunting in the
locality, took up residence at Stourton Castle, which is still in
excellent condition, and occupied. At Stourton Castle are recorded
many incidents of murders, Royal births, sieges, and the Civil
War.
At the extreme eastern end of the cliff top stands the
magnificent old church of St Peter’s of the Rock dedicated to the
memory of the first King of Mercia’s two murdered sons, Wulphad and
Ruffinus.
In the church are monuments with the arms of the families of
Hampton Grey, Worwood, and Compton (Comber) of Kinfayre Hall. A
document, in which Charles I confirmed to the tenants and
inhabitants of Kinver the privileges granted by previous Charters,
is preserved in the vestry of Kinver Church.
The district is very rich in traces and evidence of ancient
Troglodyte dwellings. These dwellings were cut out in the sand-
stone rock and can still be found at Gibraltar, Dunsley; Holy
Austin Rock; Nanny’s Rock; and Meg-o-Fox Hole. Some of the rock
houses have been restored and are opened by The National
Trust.
At one time, Kinver was busy with several splitting mills and
forges on the banks of the River Stour. These works have all been
closed and no longer exist.
Kinver Edge, with its many acres of gorse, woodland, and
heather, is now also owned by the National Trust, and this
delightful spot, with its lovely views of the grand surrounding
country, makes an ideal tourists resort. The area has a long and
illustrious history as a focus for tourists.
Kinver’s long High Street, with a variety of building styles
and periods, is centred on mediaeval burgage plots which stretch
back to the River Stour on one side, and Church Hill on the other.
The village is well provided with shops for locals and tourists
alike, and a wealth of places to eat and drink.
Many thousands of visitors come every year to Kinver, which
has for long been known as the Switzerland of the Midlands. This
name was given to it by the British Electric Tramways Company,
whose Kinver Light Railway brought tens of thousands of people
there annually from all parts of the Black Country. The line
operated from 5 April 1901 until 8 February 1930, and would have
proven to be the most enormous tourist magnet had it
survived.
Information taken from South Staffordshire Reviewed
with the permission of Paul Collins and Craig Walker