The Kingsland Group of Parishes

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist

and St Alkmund Aymestrey

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist and St Alkmund, Aymestrey, goes back to the 12th century, when the Chancel and Nave were built, but various additions were made in later years. The embattled Western Tower was added around the middle of the 14th century. The North and South Aisles and arcades were constructed in the 16th century, and the South Porch was built in either the 16th or 17th century, but was modified about a hundred years ago. The delicately carved screen separating chancel from nave is of very high quality - “the finest in Herefordshire”, and the other screens too are excellent. The pulpit is said to be Jacobean and the altar rail 18th century. The tower houses six bells. In the churchyard there is an ancient Preaching Cross, which can be seen in the left hand photograph above.
 
Mortimer’s Cross lies within the parish boundaries. The Battle of Mortimer’s Cross, in which the Yorkist forces defeated the Lancastrians, was fought around this area and on the Great West Field on the northern fringe of Kingsland in February 1461. There is a theory that the Yorkist horses were stabled in Aymestrey church.
 
The village of Aymestrey lies on Watling Street, the Roman road, and straddles the River Lugg. There is a village stores, a garden centre, and the Riverside Inn.