Nearly 600 ft above sea level and astride the A39, Kilkhampton is Cornwall's most northerly village, The Chilcheton of the Domesday Book of 1086 and the Kilketon of possible Saxon origin is only two miles from the river Tamar, the border with Devon, which rises in nearby Morwenstowe. Visitors may not realise that they are using the ancient Ridgeway along which monks travelled to visit their grange at Alder combe or their land and cells at Launcells, coming all the way from Hartland Abbey. The Romans incorporated it in their road building schemes and had a rest camp at Abbury, just east of the main road. The first Granville came along it, having been awarded the manor in 1088 after Oddo's revolt. Later, Royalists bore the body of their hero, Sir Richard Grenville of Stamford Hill fame, along it for burial in Kilkhampton church after his death from many wounds at Landsdowne.
Once a market town, some locals still refer to the Lower Square as the Bull Ring. Local field names reflect the history of the village too. Gallows and Gibbet Moor bear witness to stern justice. Bear Park and Tumblers Field recall happier occasions when entertainers came for three fairs held annually. The village still celebrates St James's Day on 25th July in great style. They have also recently revived the winter carnival in November which is well supported by surrounding villages.
The arrangement of many fields and gardens in long strips dates back to the days of the Saxon `hundreds' and there are the remains of a motte and bailey castle to climb, affording excellent views of the sea and surrounding countryside The monks of Tewkesbury Abbey are believed to have built the parish church of St James the Great. This church is on the Pilgrim's Path of St James of Compostella. A recent entry in the Visitor's Book records the visit of a true pilgrim from the USA following this path. His night's vigil was spent in one of the finest churches in Cornwall with its Norman porch and l4th century individually carved bench ends. The vibrant faith of the village today is truly represented in the ecumenical co-operation between the parish church, the Methodist chapel and the Christian Fellowship centre.
Although it has lost many of its former trades such as tanning, boot making, cobbling and saddlery, Kilkhampton still takes a great price in all it does. `There is a thing of all sorts and all sorts of things in Kilk when you do go looking' proved a true quotation when a recent survey of all amenities and facilities in the village was carried out. From an outfitter's and draper's shop established in 1807 to two modern self-service grocers, a butcher, a baker, a post office and newsagent, a greengrocer, two ancient pubs - one an old coaching inn offering accommodation, a video hire service and electrical goods shop, taxis, a garage, a fun park, a nine hole golf course, a sports and leisure centre, free car park and public toilets next to the church, there is little one can't get in Kilkhampton except large items of furniture and prescription goods.
Penstowe Manor was once the home of Mrs Thynne. As a magistrate she penalised any Kilkhampton offender brought before her much more harshly than people from elsewhere. Present day motorists have this formidable lady to thank for the easier gradient on the hilly road from Stratton. Having quarrelled with the Vicar of St James she began attending services in Stratton. In bad weather her horses were unable to negotiate the steep slopes of the narrow road through Ivyleaf Combe, so Mrs Thynne had the wider, safer road carved from the hillside beside Tiscott Wood along which her carriage - and later her Rolls Royce swept majestically along. Her ghost is said to haunt the house, once the home of the Grenvilles.
Set within well tended farmland, Kilkhampton has no mineral resources to draw on, other than a working quarry within its boundaries. Tourism and farming are its main sources of income though there is now only one farm within the actual village where once there were several.
A warm welcome awaits all who visit Kilkhampton, gatekeepers of the northern holiday route into Cornwall. Contrary to local jokes, the only `passport' you will need to enter this lovely part of the country is an answering smile to the welcoming one you will receive.
The above description of the village of Kilkhampton was written by "The Federation Woman Institutes". The Webmaster has been trying to contact the WI to ask for permission to use the above on this web-site.
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