Kinver Edge and Troglodytes

Kinver Edge is a high ridge line slightly west of Kinver village.  The geology of the Edge appears to be soft red sandstone with a covering of pebble and sand.  The area is mostly covered in woodland, although there are some areas of open grassland.  At its highest point the ridge is 180m above sea level and 120m above the height of the canal.  Kinver Edge is owned by The National Trust.

My plan was to walk up the hill and past Kinver Church to the southern end of the ridgeline, then turn north walking the length.  At some time during the walk I planned to come upon the rock homes. 

The view to the south with Abberley Hill on the horizon. 

Looking south-west it is possible to see Brown Clee Hills in the distance.

At the other end of the ridge are views to the west where The Black Country can be seen.

Eventually I came upon a signpost pointing to the location of the Rock Homes where a circular route eventually led me to the entrance.

A short 10km clockwise walk starting from the canal just beyond the right arrow.  The left arrow points to the location of the Rock Houses.   Access is relatively easy if you walk through Kinver village to the eastern end of the Edge.

The latter part of my route took me through some interesting woodland.

Wikipedia states “Kinver Edge is a remnant of the Mercian forest, although much planting dates from post-1945. There are two Iron Age hillforts on Kinver Edge the larger one Kinver Edge Hillfort, is at the northern end, while the other is at the southern end, on a promontory known as Drakelow Hill.”  None of the trees in this part of the woodland looked older than 20-30 years.

There is secure access to the Rock Houses and the only charge is if you want to enter the homes.  They were closed during my visit.

 

These are the last troglodyte dwellings occupied in England.  So now you know troglodyte means cave dweller! The homes were inhabited up until the 1970’s.  I guess this means all those opal miners who live underground in Coober Pedy, South Australia are also Troglodytes.  The Britain Explorer website offers the suggestion the Rock houses are the inspiration for Tolkien’s Hobbit Holes as he lived in Birmingham and “pined” for the countryside.

The walk ended on the opposite side of Kinver Village. 

Apparently Kinver was recorded in the Doomsday Book.  Roll the clock forward almost 1000 years and Kinver had a light railway system which brought thousands of Victorian visitors to the village every week.