Kington & Surrounding Area

Kington is a small market town on the Herefordshire/Welsh border. Interestingly, though it is on the English side of the current political boundary it is on the Welsh side of Offa’s Dyke, the historical boundary.  The population had strong affinities with Wales, exemplified by men of the area joining with Prince Llewllyn of Powys to sack Hereford in 1055. The uprising was put down by Harold Godwinson (later to become King Harold who died at the Battle of Hastings) and lands confiscated to the King, hence the town’s current name of Kington or King’s Town.

 The area is surrounded by evidence of human habitation from the Neolithic, Bronze age and Roman periods and is especially noted for its black and white timber framed architecture that can date back the 15th century.

To get a flavour of the 19th century town, have a look at the excellent account of Kington in 1876 transcribed from Littlebury’s Directory and Gazetteer of Herefordshire available at: