Farningham & Eynsford Local History Society

Another lovely photo of Farningham Cricket Ground from Bernard Drew's book "100 years of Farningham Cricket". It shows Manor Farm when it was a farm before being converted into houses. The cows used to be put out to pasture on the cricket field outside of the cricket season!

A photo of Farningham Cricket Club taken around 1866. The club was established in 1857. The members are assembled on the lawn of the Lion Hotel, with a plank over the river Darent for a shortcut to the George Meadow, where the Club still plays. The players are listed as Colonel Streatfield, S. Cook, Richardson, Palmer, Court (umpire), F. Beadle, F. Ray, W.B. Rashleigh, R. Bradford, Watson, C.E. Rashleigh, Arthur Bradford, C.T. Williamson, W. Bradford, A. Selby, W.W Rashleigh, E.S. Hall and A. Hall - A Hundred Years of Farningham Cricket by Bernard Drew

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 22 May 2026, see below for details. Please note the meeting will be held in The Edwards Hall in Priory Lane, Eynsford,

Scadbury Park in Chislehurst is part of the original Scadbury Manor Estate which archaeological investigation has shown was first settled around 1200. Dr Janet Clayton with the Orpington Archaeological Society has excavated the site and researched its history for many years. Set in an extensive estate it is owned by the London Borough of Bromley with public access. Dr Clayton will talk about the Manor at our next talk on Friday 24th April 2026. The talk will be held in Farningham Village Hall, doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. All are welcome, members free and £3.00 for guests.

We have recently received a wonderful scrapbook started by Mr Edwards of the White House,Farningham in the 1930s. We intend to display it at our forthcoming AGM on 22nd May. Here is one interesting article from the Kentish Times showing the A20 looking down towards Farningham where the current speed camera and layby are situated. This road has always been dangerous as the article explains.

Ed Thompson was brought up in Otford and developed an early interest in railways watching steam trains at the local station. He began to collect railway memorabilia as much of the railway
was being modernised in the 1960s but it wasn’t until 1980s
when the canopy at Otford Station was being taken down that he
felt the need to preserve the memory of the old station for future
generations. At that time he only possessed one old photograph
of the building, but over time his collection grown to over 400
images.
His talk on 27 March will focus on the Sevenoaks Railway which runs down the Darent Valley, see poster below for details

Our evening meetings for 2026 commence on Friday 13 February at Farningham Village Hall, see information and poster for details below. We look forward to seeing you there.

Jennifer Godfrey, author of Suffragettes of Kent, will tell stories of hope, determination, courage and sacrifice of those campaigning for women’s suffrage in Kent. Topics covered will include: a peaceful suffrage pilgrimage, suffrage van tours, militant action in Kent, the previously untold story of a Kent working class maid arrested and imprisoned for window-smashing in London and forcible feeding. Jennifer will also touch on her second book, Secret Missions of the Suffragettes: Glassbreakers & Safehouses, sharing details of how Suffragettes used disguises, codes and alias names to complete their missions. There will be a chance for Q&A after the talk. Jennifer will also be selling signed copies of her books at the event (cash or card).

EYNSFORD VILLAGE HALL
The Village Hall is about to be demolished and a new one built on Harrow Meadow. The Trustees of Eynsford Village Hall would like to build up a collection of memories and photos of the current Village Hall to take over to the new building. If you have any vivid memories of your experiences in connection with the Village Hall or if you have photos taken of functions, please send them via
[email protected]
Below are a few photos of past functions in the Hall. A film night poster from 1923, beer being served at a Harvest Supper in 1944, the WI in 1959 and the gardeners show in 2022.

15th July 1920 saw the unveiling of the War Memorial which stands at the bottom of Bower Lane, Eynsford. Sir William Hart D**e performed the unveiling and a service was led by the Baptist minister John Felmingham and the vicar of St Martin's Rev. Mummery. Wreaths and crosses were laid. Six girls from Eynsford Paper Mill carried a huge anchor of everlasting flowers which was laid inside the railings. Eynsford Brass Band played and the ceremony ended with the National Anthem and the Last Post.
The pictures below show the unveiling ceremony and the memorial shortly afterwards. Another shows the gas lamp which stood there, c1911, before the memorial was erected. Mr Larter who lived opposite in Albert Cottages lit the lamp every evening.

This local talk may be of interest