Kinvers rock houses one of the countrys best secret. The tunnels were used for various purposes by the mod for many years. I noticed that the book noted editor, who found harry potter, but it is the only link with harry. May 12, 2012 4 turn left here through the gateway and head north through a shady woodland and overgrown plantation along the ridge to emerge into the open heathland of kinver edge. Mighty, sandstone kinver edge with its caves and hollows and acres of woodland belongs to the national trust and hereford and worcester county council, who call their bit kingsford country park.
Some of the rock houses have been restored to their former inhabited states. Kinver edge in south staffordshire and its historic rock houses hobbit holes are the most likely source for this inspiration. Just after nannys rock the path heads north east through some pretty bluebell. This circular walk around the site starts from the parking area off compton road next to the holy austin rock. England three and a half miles of topsecret tunnels housed a world war ii shadow factory and a cold war nuclear. The start is the national trust carpark on compton road just to the west of the centre of kinver village grid ref. It is in the far southwest of the county, at the end of the narrow finger of land surrounded by the counties of shropshire, worcestershire and the west midlands. The views from the top of kinver edge are wonderful. Kinvers woodland sandstone ridge offers dramatic views across surrounding counties.
Hidden away in beneath kingsford country park near kinver in staffordshire, these terrifying tunnels are 3. Kinver light railway opened in 1901 from amblecote near stourbridge. Kinver is a large village in south staffordshire district, staffordshire, england. There are walks available for all abilities and time scales, so you can choose to go on a short, gentle walk up to the hillfort or a longer ramble to find nannys rock in the woods. Climbing back to kinver edge, we fancied we could hear the hollow boom of the tunnels. Drakelow tunnels is the only publicly accessible wwii shadow factory and cold war bunker in the uk. Kinver edge, staffordshire great british walks travel. You can also add information on michelin restaurants, tourist attractions or hotels in kingswinford or kinver. Kinver edge rock houses stourbridge 2020 all you need to. Kingswinford kinver route planner distance, time and. Located on enville road, on the west side of kinver, this long established vets has served the local comminuty for many years. Jan 29, 2019 in midapril 1941, the ministry of aircraft production informed the treasury of their intention to build an underground factory of 250,000 sq ft 23,000 m2 in sandstone hills at drakelow. This is the first memorial and stands on its original site on a hillside. The tunnels were built between 19411942 as a shadow factory for the rover car company.
However, as buses became more popular during the 1920s, it was eventually closed on 8 february 1930. A new memorial to the fallen of both wars was more recently erected in the heart of the village. This web site allows you to view sensitive data about our students and staff that we are duty bound, and legally required, to protect. Kinver light railway, an innovative electric light tramway opened on 4 april 1901 and helped establish the local tourism industry.
England three and a half miles of topsecret tunnels housed a world war. Kinver edge was created millions of years ago from windblown sand which had collected over time. War bunker near kinver proves a hit with visitors worcester. His father was a curator at the museum, and with his son secretly. Located in south staffordshire near the border with worcestershire, kinver edge is a high heath and woodland escarpment owned by the national trust just west of kinver, about four miles west of stourbridge. You then follow a nice way marked trail along kinver edge to nannys rock. The stewponey refers to an ancient inn now demolished and replaced by flats at stourton in kinver parish. The nearest towns are stourbridge, west midlands, kidd. Drakelow tunnels are a former top secret underground military complex beneath kingsford country park north of kidderminster, worcestershire. There are also options to drive a short section at the start for those who struggle on steep hills. The book tunnels i found on a shelf in a public library, i read a little summary. High sandstone ridge and hill fort overlooking dramatic red sandstone rock houses.
This group is very similar to the original kinver past and present however it allows freedom of. Whichever you choose you are guaranteed spectacular views from the top of the edge. There are several waymarked walks around kinver edge, accessible from the rock houses. During the second world war the tunnels housed a factory which would have been used to build aircraft engines should the main supply factory in birmingham ever have been bombed.
Tunnels a new york times bestseller about the book hes a loner at school, his sisters beyond bossy, and his mother watches tv all day long, but at least will burrows shares one hobby with his otherwise weird father. Choose one of the following options for the kingswinford to kinver route. Marvel at the rock houses that the people carved out out for themselves from the hillside. Kinver edge, south staffordshire staffordshire walk.
Kinver edge, like nearby clent hills, was once the nearest thing stourbridge people had to a holiday, if you had no money, you walked it, if you had some money, you took the tram. They were originally built as a second world war shadow factory, and were developed during the cold war to be a fallback. Kinver edge is a remnant of the mercian forest, although much planting dates from post1945. The bomb base, as we call this place as kids in the 1990s spending many hours exploring these network of tunnels carved out of the soft sand stone rock of kinver edge, as the government were in. View all hotels near kinver edge rock houses on tripadvisor. Sorry talking crap about the air navigation order its 500f for real aircraft and 400f for rc not over congested area. It is easy to imagine this being the inspiration for tolkeins middle earth landscape, being a midlander himself perhaps it was.
Because of this, we have implemented a highly secure one time pin otp system, as used by many banks and building societies. A good trek around the borders of worcestershire and staffordshire, taking in landscaped glades and ancient woodland, glorious views from an imposing sandstone ridge. The first formal record of the rock houses of kinver edge appears in a book from 1777 letters on the beauties of hagley, envil and the leasowes with critical remarks and observations on the modern taste in gardening by joseph healey who describes being caught in a thunderstorm while walking along the edge of the cliffs. Black country workers on days off and victorian tourists flocked to the area. Drakelow tunnels kidderminster 2020 all you need to know. Tunnels a new york times bestseller about the book hes a loner at school, his sisters beyond bossy, and his mother watches tv all day long, but at least will burrows shares one hobby with his otherwise weird. The drakelow tunnels are a former underground military complex beneath the blakeshall estate north of kidderminster, worcestershire, covering 280,000 sq ft 26,000 m2, with a total length of.
The walk around 6 miles of exercise, climbing kinver edge for an exhilarating ridge walk with superb views, wandering in woodland at kingsford country park, steaming up a rising track and whizzing down a high, green hill to woodland paths on the lower slopes of the edge. It is a story about a boy will burrows and his father roger who are mystified researchers history. This is very plausible as during his youth tolkien lived in nearby birmingham and often pined for the countryside. Kinver edge and rock houses is a timeless attraction, with hidden tunnels for little ones and adventurous grownups to explore. Please note that there is currently a reduced menu in the rock house cafe due to kitchen building works but you can still enjoy cakes, scones and light bites by the roaring stove. After enjoying the view walk southwest along the edge soon joining the staffordshire way. They were originally built as a second world war shadow factory, and were developed during the cold war to be a fallback government centre. Ideally situated for visiting kinver edge, glassworks and black country museums, leafy canal walks, cycling, and open countryside, country inns, enville golf course, stourbridge rugby club, halfpenny green airfield and shopping centres at merry hill, kidderminster or wolverhampton. With sweeping views, a wildlife haven in the heath and unique homes carved straight into the rock. Now under the name severn edge, with the added benefit of the large hospital close by, the care is second to none in this area. The famous holy austin rock houses are cosily restored to help you soak up the atmosphere of these unusual homes. At the time kinver was a popular day out from the dirty and smoky city.
The soft sandstone made carving homes out of rock easyso easy, in fact, that when a family moved out, the neighbors would tunnel through to the adjoining home, doubling their homes size. The drakelow tunnels are a former underground military complex beneath the blakeshall estate north of kidderminster, worcestershire, covering 280,000 sq ft, with a total length of around 3. Today i took my boys and the dog expecting to have lunch at the tea rooms, like i have a few times before. 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 the area has been a popular local tourist destination since edwardian times, when an electric tramway. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. The national trustowned beauty spot of kinver edge lies to the southwest of the village at 5226. You can actually explore this fascinating sandstone rock house with its five empty rooms and the devils chimney. The national trustowned beauty spot of kinver edge lies to the southwest of the village at 52. Kingswinford to kinver route planner get the best route from kingswinford to kinver with viamichelin. Drakelow tunnels kidderminster all you need to know. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of kinver edge, as. The zeppelin of kinver edge and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The drakelow tunnels are a former underground military complex beneath the blakeshall estate north of kidderminster, worcestershire, covering 280,000 sq ft 26,000 m 2, with a total length of around 3. Although not open all year round, the bunker is open when various events take place that include history tours, paranormal tours and airsoft games.
Weve got miles of footpaths to explore across kinver edge. Such rock houses were the setting of a book and silent film, bladys of the stewpony 1919, sabine baringgould, but most of this has since been lost. Freestanding obelisk within the national trust park on kinver edge. There are notable rock or cave houses on kinver edge, carved from the sandstone, some inhabited as late as the 1960s. We have just been to kinver to buy some eggs and bread and up my the co. The tramway started in amblecote, stourbridge and travelled though lovely scenery to the village of kinver itself. Find out how to make the most of your visit to kinver edge and the rock houses. The national trust owned beauty spot of kinver edge lies to the southwest of the. Jan 01, 2011 freefall continues the tunnels series, mustread for diehard fans of the series, although this is probably the last book in the series that has intriguing plot twists and turns although many of them come too late in the book. On the border of staffordshire and worcestershire in england lies kinver edge, a sandstone hill where people have lived in cave homes for centuries. From the car park follow the waymarks up to the viewpoint. Kinver edge rock houses stourbridge 2020 all you need. The famous holy austin rock houses, which were inhabited until the 1950s, are open to visitors at selected times. Nestled below the cave dwellings of kinver edge, a great place to visit after youve solved the mystery, the trail leads you from the church to explore the village and canal on this circular trail.
It is a sandstone ridge just several hundred feet high, with views out over surrounding fields and woodland. The swirling patterns in the sandstone rock can still be seen in the walls and ceilings of the cave dwellings where water and the elements are gradually eroding away the soft sandstone rock. Please submit any useful information about climbing kinver edge that may be useful to other climbers. 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. Holy austin rock houses kinver, england atlas obscura. Drakelow tunnels kidderminster 2020 all you need to. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. Drakelow tunnels 1980s bunker\1940s rover factory kinver. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of kinver edge, as well as the logistics of climbing to the summit. You can also visit the rock houses at holy austin rock. View all attractions near drakelow tunnels on tripadvisor.