About Kenilworth

In 1086 King William I of England commissioned a land survey of his realm. The Domesday Book reveals that the Kenilworth of 900 years ago was a humble agricultural settlement with a population of less than 100.

Within a few hundred years of William's survey, Kenilworth grew from a modest community in a forest clearing to the home of one of the stateliest castles in England and a stronghold of Lords and Kings. The castle was later celebrated in the romance 'Kenilworth' by the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Origin of Name

The Domesday Book refers to the town as 'Chinewrde', meaning "Farm of a woman named Cynehild". However, it is thought that 'kenil' is originally derived from the name of some ancient proprietor, perhaps a Saxon named Kenelm or Kenulph. The syllable 'worth' is from the Saxon, signifying a mansion or dwelling-place, and the compound would therefore express Kenulph's (or Kenelm's) Place.

The town's name has been spelt in dozens of ways over the centuries, including Chenildeword, Chenildeworda, Chinewrde, Kellingworth, Kenelworth, Keneylleworth, Kenilewrth, Kenilleworth, Kenillewrth, Kenillworthe, Kenilworth, Kenilworthe, Kenilwrth, Kennellworth, Kennilleworth, Kenyleworth, Kenylleworth, Kenyllewrth, Kenylwrth, Kenyngeworth, Killingworth, Kinelingwrth, Kyllingworthe, Kyllyngworth, and Kynleworth.

Location

The town of Kenilworth is situated in the county of Warwickshire, and is 95 miles N.W. of London, and about five miles from Warwick.

Sketch map of Kenilworth showing motorways and the locations of Coventry, Birmingham, Warwick, Stratford, Leamington and Solihull.

Also see the OS-style map from streetmap.co.uk

Page last updated: October 24, 2000

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