Farningham
| Farningham | |
|---|---|
 Village sign | |
  Farningham Location within Kent | |
| Population | 1,319 (2011 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TQ5466 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Dartford |
| Postcode district | DA4 |
| Dialling code | 01322 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Farningham is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. It is located 3 miles south east of Swanley. It has a population of 1,314 [1].
History
Farningham is believed to be home to Neolithic history – flint and other tools have been discovered and can be found in the Dartford Museum. The Romans occupied the general area after their invasion in the 1st century and, along with large evidence of habitation down the road in Lullingstone, there is also evidence of Roman habitation in Farningham. Three farmhouses and three villas have been unearthed. Charles Dickens was a visitor during his time for the trout fishing that the Darent provided.
The Domesday Book records that before the Norman conquest, Farningham was owned by an Anglo Saxon thane called Alstan.[2]
In the nineteenth century Farningham was adopted as the assumed surname of Marianne Farningham, a religious writer and editor, who was born here.[3]
Used only for WW1 there used to be an airfield used by the RAF for emergency landings.
The parish church is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul.
The parish was part of Axstane Hundred and later Dartford Rural District.
Transport
Roads
Farningham is situated upon the historic route of the A20, Kent's second major road between the capital and the channel ports. The village itself, with its narrow bridge over the River Darenth, and its narrow streets, was bypassed to the north east in the 1930s. The A225 runs along the Darenth valley and intersects the A20 at the village. The construction of the first sections of the M25 motorway and M20 motorway in the late 1970s bypassed the village again.
Rail
Farningham is not served by any railway stations directly; however, two stations are located within walking distance:
- Farningham Road on the Chatham main line, with services to London Victoria, Gillingham, Faversham, Canterbury, Dover, Margate and Ramsgate;
- Eynsford on the Maidstone line, with services to London (both Victoria and Blackfriars), Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury.
Despite Farningham Road station being named after the village, Eynsford station is in fact the nearer of the two.
Buses
- 421 to Swanley and to Sevenoaks (Limited Monday to Saturday off peak journeys)
- 429 to Dartford via Swanley and to West Kingsdown (Sunday journeys continue past Dartford to Bluewater)
Mills
Farningham had a watermill, powered by the River Darent, the building of which survives. There was a windmill at Chimham's Farm, which was moved in 1880 to West Kingsdown, where it still stands.
Sport
Home to Farningham Cricket Club along Horton Way the club has been in existence since 1857 providing cricketing facilities for the local community. Currently fielding two senior league Saturday teams and one Sunday friendly team along with a thriving junior section.
References
- ^ a b "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ Wadard and Vital
- ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1912). . Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.
External links
