Population 282 (2011) Civil parish Knockin Ceremonial county Shropshire Local time Thursday 10:34 AM Dialling code 01691 | OS grid reference SJ330223 Unitary authority Region West Midlands Post town Oswestry UK parliament constituency North Shropshire | |
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Weather 10°C, Wind SW at 27 km/h, 79% Humidity | ||
Knockin is a village and civil parish lying on the B4396 some 8 km south-east of the town of Oswestry in north-west Shropshire, England.
Contents
Map of Knockin, UK
History
The former name of Knockin was Cnukyn. The village comprises mainly historic detached buildings in a rural setting. Much of Knockin was owned by the Earl of Bradford until it was sold off in lots to meet other financial demands. The Earl still owns the cricket pitch and other small pockets of land in the area. The local public house is called the Bradford Arms and displays the Bradford family coat of arms. The pub also has a clock with three faces, hung outside above the main entrance. The motto displayed on the sign is that of the Bridgeman family Earls of Bradford "Nec temere nec timide" (Neither rashly nor timidly).
Knockin Castle
All that remains of Knockin Castle today is a large tree-covered mound of earth. The castle was of a motte and bailey design and was constructed between 1154-1160 under the authority of Guy le Strange. Ownership remained with the family for much of the Middle Ages but by 1540 it was described as "ruinous". Like most Shropshire castles which are now only marked by grassy sites, its stones live on in a number of buildings in the area.
Church
The parish church of St Mary was founded by Ralph Le Strange between 1182 and 1195 as a chapel for the castle. It has a Norman chancel, nave and north aisle but the building was heavily restored in 1846. Its graveyard was consecrated in 1817; before then at least some burials took place at Kinnerley. It contains CWGC-registered war graves of two officers and two soldiers of the British Army of World War I.
Radio telescope
One of the radio telescopes that make up the Jodrell Bank MERLIN (Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network) radio telescope array is in Knockin. The array links several observing stations that together form a powerful telescope.
Sport
Knockin is the home of Knockin and Kinnerley Cricket Club. Established as a club in 1862 the club field 4 league teams, a Midweek team and junior teams from under 11's to under 15's. The Knockin & Kinnerley Knights Junior Section continues to thrive and training takes place on Monday evenings at the clubs' Nursery Ground.