10 ST KENELMS CHURCH, ROMSLEY

A gem that should be more famous

A story of intrigue and murder to match any in Game of Thrones lies behind the origin of this ancient red and grey sandstone church in the Clent Hills of Worcestershire. Not only is the building exquisite, but its setting overlooking the city of Birmingham in the distance is breathtaking.

Said to be built over the spring which appeared when Kenelm, boy king of Mercia, was beheaded by his sister in the 9th century, it dates from Norman times. I first modelled it in the 1960s using card and brickpaper. I started to build it again using styrene sheet and Wills stone sheets but that model has stood unfinished for many years, simply overtaken by other projects.