Publication Review

Hilary and Wilfrid Harding's Brief History of Farningham provides a comprehensive overview of buildings and events in the history of Farningham parish as well as of the people who played a role in it over the last 2000 years. Starting with the first known settlers in the century before the birth of Christ they go on with the Romans, the Saxons, and the Normans who, between them, account for the first eleven hundred years and three pages. As the second millennium progresses more and more information becomes available and the authors are able to give a much more detailed account of the last four hundred years. The extensive list of references witnesses to the work they have put into researching their subject. This little booklet provides a competent introduction to Farningham's history and whets the reader's appetite for the larger scale work which the authors are preparing. With more space at their disposal they will be able to explain the background to Farningham's history and explore in detail some of the interesting avenues which are indicated only in outline in the present work.

Peter Saunders
Review reprinted from The Trident magazine.