St James, Kinnersley

On your approach to St James church in Kinnersley, you notice the imposing north west ‘Dutch style’ saddle back tower with the interior significantly restored by the rector, Reverend Andrews in 1867.

The church style is unusual for the county.

The 12th century church has a wealth of memorials and monuments including a 15th century brass memorial to a former rector, William Leviot and a Jacobean chancel monument to Francis Smallman who had been the lord of the manor at Kinnersley when he died in 1633.

George Frederick Bodley was a famous church architect of the Victorian era and designed much of the internal décor within the church. His family owned the nearby Kinnersley Castle and along with his wife Minna Reavely, their grave can be found outside in the churchyard.

Kinnersley Castle stands besides the church. Originally it was a Norman fortress and was later rebuilt as an Elizabethan manor house by the powerful Vaughan family who are said to inspired famous author Arthur Conan Doyle with stories for the Hound of the Baskervilles.