Welcome
The Kemnal Residents' Association
Kemnal Road has been home to a thriving community since Samuel Asser laid its first stones in 1873. As a private, unadopted road, its maintenance is our shared responsibility — and our shared pride.
The Association works to preserve the road's unique woodland character, manage its upkeep, and foster a strong sense of community among residents. This website serves as a resource for our neighbours: a window into our rich history, a hub for news and governance, and a practical guide to life on Kemnal Road.
Since 1250
A Road Rich in History
From its origins as an ancient woodland footpath to its transformation into a distinguished Victorian road of grand houses, Kemnal Road's story spans over 750 years. The estate was held by New College, Oxford for nearly five centuries before Samuel Asser created the road we know today.
Thirteen great houses once lined these grounds, home to bankers, judges, diplomats, and an extraordinary menagerie of 70 dogs and 16 monkeys. Four original mansions survive. Foxbury was once leased by Michael Jackson. A Cold War bunker hides beneath the old Kemnal Manor estate.
