FARNBOROUGH VILLAGE
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FARNBOROUGH, Kent, to be distinguished from the better known Farnborough in Hampshire and from places of the same name in Berkshire and Warwickshire, is a village on the high road to Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Hastings, 14 miles from London, and about 350 feet above sea level. It lies on the northern slope of the North Downs, partly on the chalk and partly on the edge of the Thames basin. |
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Bones of the mammoth have been found in the flint pit on Green-Street-Green, and palaeolithic flint implements are plentifully scattered over the fields. A small piece of common is known as Leach's Green from the family of the same name, still resident, whose house adjoining the common was only pulled down when the present Board School was built.
The name of the village derives from Feambiorginga or village among the ferns on the hill. Records date from 862AD when Ethelbert, King of Wessex gave away 950 acres at Farnborough. The village was not mentioned in the Doomsday Book although the manor existed in the middle ages, and in the 1200s was held by Simon de Montfort.
The village developed on the main Road from London to Hastings. Before Farnborough Hill was built the coaches travelled down Church Hill and over Old Hill, at times known as the old Roman Road, at the top of which once stood the local gibbet; reputed to be the last in England to be used for public hanging, but we have no proof of that. The stocks were at the top of Church Hill. The surface of Church Road was lowered to ease passage of the coaches, which is why the road is now lower than the level of the adjoining churchyard.
The George and Dragon Pub existed in the 16th Century, and was used as a coaching inn. The George and Dragon was replaced by The George in 1937. This was in turn demolished after the start of the current century to make way for the new housing adjoining the junction between Church Road and the High Street. Coaches and horsemen were accomodated at the pub that now bears the name 'The Change of Horses', but was named for centuries 'The New Inn'.
Church Road retains the rural character of the past and the path in the lychgate connects Church and Village. The historic buildings in Church Road include No. 3(19th Century), No. 5, with the overhanging weatherboard, Nos 15 amd 18 (18th Century) and No. 20 (17th Century).
The north of the village was developed in the 1900s with roads named after famous people, including Peel, Pitt and Palmerston. Farnborough was on the main A21 trunk road between London and Hastings until 1927, when Farnborough by-pass opened. The housing development on the Orpington side of the A21 after the war was one of the factors leading eventually to the building of St. Nicholas church.
Farnborough was part of the Bromley Rural District from 1894 to 1934 when this was abolished. Most of its area then became part of Orpington Urban District. Since 1965 Farnborough has been within the London Borough of Bromley.
This part of Farnborough is a Conservation Area where conservation and improvement of the environment is given priority. The former bus-turning area used by routes 47 and 51 was landscaped by Bromley Council in 1985 to enhance the Conservation Area. Today Farnborough is served by bus routes from Bromley, Orpington and Sevenoaks/Tonbridge. Orpington main line railway station is about 20 minutes brisk walk.
PARISH HISTORY