Kynaston's Cave

Location


Grid Reference: SJ 384 194

Altitude: -

The site lies in the woodland of Nesscliffe Hill Country park, above the village of Nesscliffe, just off the A5 between Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

Access
Gated. No access to the site or its approach staircase.

Description
Not a cave, but a rock shelter carved into the quarried sandstone cliffs. There is a doorway, a window and a chimney all opening out onto the cliff face some 6m or so above ground level. Originally, access was via a set of carved stone steps. These have become increasingly worn and in 1994 a free standing wooden staircase was erected alongside to allow visitors safe access to view the site. This has since been removed and the stone staircase fenced off, so currently (2010) the site must be viewed from the outside at ground level.

History
The site is reputed to have been carved out and lived in by Humphrey Kynaston who lived from 1474-1534. He is something of a local legend in the area; a highwayman and general bad-boy.