Kinnerton

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE -- Kinnerton Women's Institute's June meeting took the form of a visit to Kington Museum, where members saw the artefacts and uniforms on display. Afterwards, curator Ken Reeves took them on a conducted tour of the town, recommending them to keep their eyes uplifted, the better to see the many items of historical interest. The first of these were the animal keystones on the Spar supermarket faade, and then Mr Reeves indicated the site of the first of many inns that used to quench the thirst of the locals. They included the Ram, White Lion and the Castle, all on Church Street, along with the existing Swan Hotel and the 17th century Royal Oak - 'the first and last in England' in the days when the Welsh Sunday was 'dry'. Kington, members learned, used to have eight fairs a year, the oldest being the September fair, possibly dating from 1265, and now known as the Kington Horse Show which is held on the second Saturday of September. They went on to view more inns in the High Street and Duke Street, including the Oxford Arms Hotel dating back to medieval times, and the Lamb Inn. At 13 High Street was the draper, A W Gamage, who left Kington late in the 19th century and went on to found the famous London store, Gamages of Holborn, and in the Harp Yard members saw the site where John Wesley preached, in 1746, to a less than enthusiastic audience. When the party returned to the museum, it was to find a hearty supper provided by Ken's wife, Susan, and this was much appreciated, coming - as it did - at the end of a thoroughly enjoyable and different evening. The institute's annual outing will be on July 16, and anyone wishing to know more, or who would like to book a place, should contact Joan Jones (01544 350343).