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Caynham Village, Shropshire

Caynham Village Walks - Walk 2

Approximate duration: 35-40 minutes with optional 5 minute detour to Pervin Number of stiles: 3 Distance: approx 1.5 miles

The church in Caynham seems to be out of the present-day village. You would probably want to say that the present-day village seems to have been built away from the traditional centre of the church. But if you leave the churchyard by the gate at the eastern end, you can follow the road for about fifty yards and come to an older part of the village. You will see on your left a farmstead, Primrose Bank or La Ponderosa, sitting on a hill above the stream.

This is considered by some historians to be the site of the Caynham Castle referred to in the 12th century.

Very little trace of the castle is left, though large stones included in the building of the present-day farmhouse may have been taken from the ruins of the castle. With great care cross the road by the farm and walk down to the bridge in the dip, past Primrose Cottage. This bridge is at least 300 years old but please be aware that cars come very fast down the hill from Knowbury. (Fifty yards up the road on your left is the small and lovely Methodist Chapel.)

By the bridge you will see a footpath sign. Turn in to the driveway of Bridge House and Bridge Cottage, previously known as "Walter's End", (in the Domesday Book a Walter owned land in Caynham), and between the two houses climb up the bank and over a stile, into the field usually in pasture.

Bear to your right and you will cross another fence, and then walk through the middle of a cultivated field down to a little bridge over the stream.stream - (be careful this path can be very slippery after rain). Watch out for Trolls! This is the old footpath from Whitton to the school in Caynham. Cross the stream and climb up the other bank to the ridge at the top. This ridgeway goes to the left up to Knowbury and becomes Whitewayhead Lane, ("Whiteway" because of the salt.) You are on the old salt trail from Droitwich to Ludlow.

Turn right and follow through the field to North Cottages. Continue in front of North Cottages to cross a stile in the hedgerow leading to a cultivated field. Walk parallel to the wood on the right (following tramlines if the field is in crop) through the metal gate at the far end of the first field, ("Side Brooks"). Keep walking in a fairly straight line across Kiln Bank, through a wooden gate, until you come to the gate by the road. Turn left for a detour if you would like to look at Pervin, an old and almost fortified farm, on your right after 100 yards.

Turn right back into the village and at the road junction notice the plaque which informs you that the field on your right was the village pound, where stray animals could be claimed. Keep on the main road and take great care going back to the Church.

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