WHEN Sir George Cornewall-Lewis had a traffic cone on his head, the people of Hereford seemed to take a bit more notice of him.

The 1994 spectacle was one of several indignities which have befallen the baronet's bronze statue in front of the Shire Hall.

Educated at Eton and Oxford and the author of several books on politics and history, Lewis enjoyed a very distinguished career. He was an MP for Herefordshire, Chancellor of the Exchequer, home secretary and secretary of state for war. Seven years after the traffic cone, the celebrated public figure was unceremoniously toppled from his plinth by revellers who put a dent in his forehead and shoulder; and for good measure he’s had his head decorated with a potted aspidistra.

The Lewis family seat is Harpton Court, in the valley below Old Radnor’s fine medieval church. St Stephen’s is the restingplace of Sir Frankland Lewis, father of Sir George and an MP, also, for most of the years between 1812 and 1855.

Legend has it that he asked to be buried at Old Radnor with his feet facing west so as to overlook Harpton.

His fondness for home meant he wanted it to be the first thing he sees when rising on Judgement Day.

The remains of Harpton are now mostly hidden from view by the trees of Broad Leasow Wood.

On a clear day, however, the 77 feet high memorial to George Cornewall-Lewis at New Radnor can sometimes be picked out. The statesman died suddenly at 56 at Harpton. He survived his father by just eight years.

The line between the Radnors is described the other way round by Alfred Watkins in Early British Trackways of 1922.

It is a striking instance, he says, of a leyline: “From the Castle Mound at New Radnor, from which Harpton Court and Old Radnor Church are in line, the eye looks up the centre of an avenue of trees climbing to the church.” And in The Old Straight Track: “Old Radnor Church can be seen nearly three miles away on its granite hill.”

By the time of Watkins’s leyline idea, the incumbents at Harpton Court were Lord and Lady Duff- Gordon.

In 1912, Sir Cosmo and his wife Lucile, a world-famous fashion designer, were passengers on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

When the disaster struck, the couple, who were portrayed in the 1997 blockbuster film, managed to find space on a lifeboat.

Although the boat was built to hold about 63 people, it was lowered when it was just half full – most of them crewmen.

While on the RMS Carpathia, the Cunard liner that rescued Titanic's survivors, Sir Cosmo presented the men from the lifeboat with cheques drawn on his bank in London, Coutts.

Later this action spawned gossip that the Duff- Gordons bribed the crew not to return to save people in the water in case their boat was inundated.

Lady Duff-Gordon had another close call three years later when she booked a passage aboard the RMS Lusitania on its last voyage.

It was reported in the press that she cancelled her trip due to illness. The Lusitania was destroyed by a German torpedo on May 7, 1915.

The short but hilly walk to bracken-strewn Hanter Hill from Old Radnor takes us along the Herefordshire border with Radnorshire.

There are great views towards the other hills around Kington.

If you stand on the viewing platform close to the church start in Old Radnor, you will see what Sir Frankland Lewis might see on Judgement Day. There are fine views across his old home in Radnor Vale to Radnor Forest; backing accompaniment is provided by the fifteenth century Harp.

THE ROUTE 1. St Stephen’s Church, Old Radnor. Park at church.

Facing eastern lych-gate, TL along approach road past Old School House on to road and go ahead. Pass houses (L) down to junction with island.

Keep to right and after 35m, cross stile (L) in hedge. Go quite steeply down through bracken. Cross stile, paddock, stile. Go between shed and cottage. Cross brook via bridge and go ahead past Crossing Bungalow to B4594 road at Burlingjobb. Cross road.

2. No Through Road.

Immediately cross stile on right. TL along L edge/hedge of crop field. Cross stile and f/bridge in L corner ahead. Go half right across pasture, through gate and on same line across next pasture. Go through gate and veer very slightly right through 40m wide gap, L of beech tree. Go through gate, find a stile up on left and cross it. Go under telegraph line, straight up pasture, and cross stile ahead.

Scramble up bank under trees. Now go very slightly right to pick up distinct stony, farm track, twelve feet wide, which contours right, with (Knowle) Barn about 75m down to your right.

3. Touchstone Cottage.

Immediately before gate and drive to cottage, go left up bank 30 paces and through gate. (You are now going to do a one and a half mile, anticlockwise circle around most of Hanter Hill). Stay fairly close to fence on right, gently up through bracken and starting to go left with telegraph line.

Pass marker post above Upper Hanter Farm (with Monkey Puzzle). Keep climbing ahead along (now) more clearly defined path on right edge. At the end of a line of fir trees, T back L 35 paces to marker post (pictured).

4. Border Post. (You are on county and country border here). Go straight ahead on a level path, then dropping (towards Worsell Wood on next hill and distinctive Herrock Hill beyond). Descend more steeply to meet fence on right. Continue to drop down past unexpected small caravan settlement, through avenue of trees and past Middle Hanter. (Radnor Forest now on horizon ahead). When you meet the mostly surfaced track below, TR about 90m to gate.

5. Lower Hanter. Go through and TL along hedged Hanter Lane. Cross Hales Brook.

Reach road again and go straight across to Crossing Bungalow for Burlingjobb.

Pass post box and bend right along road over brook. T immediately L along road, R of Bridge House. Go up to junction and take first left. Pass Hill House. Back at island junction, TR back up to church.