Today we stopped off in the picturesque village of Farningham in Kent. It was a speculative visit to see if I could find any graves in the local graveyard and to see if I could find the manor house in Sparepenny Lane where William (week 65) and Marion (week 67) Benson lived for many years and where Alick (week 2) and Hugh (week 50) were born.
The graveyard was rather disappointing in that most of the older graves were not readable due to the weathering of the stonework. I wasn't really expecting to find any Bensons but you never know - unfortunately we didn't but at least I've visited the church which the family probably attended.
The graveyard was rather disappointing in that most of the older graves were not readable due to the weathering of the stonework. I wasn't really expecting to find any Bensons but you never know - unfortunately we didn't but at least I've visited the church which the family probably attended.
Where I was successful was finding both Sparepenny Lane and the manor house, called 'The Mount'.
Interestingly, Sparepenny Lane got its name in the 18th century when you could 'spare a penny' by using the lane instead of the toll road at the other end of the village.
The Mount is one of three large manor houses in the village. It is an elegant, grade 2 listed, Regency house built in 1820 for William Colyer. It has lovely views over the Darent Valley and is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Interestingly, Sparepenny Lane got its name in the 18th century when you could 'spare a penny' by using the lane instead of the toll road at the other end of the village.
The Mount is one of three large manor houses in the village. It is an elegant, grade 2 listed, Regency house built in 1820 for William Colyer. It has lovely views over the Darent Valley and is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It was marketed for sale in 2010 and consisted of 2.82 acres with 6 bedrooms (2 in the attic), 3 reception rooms, a kitchen / breakfast rooom, a laundry room, 2 bathrooms, a substantial cellar and attractive gardens. It also had outbuildings which comprise a former coach house which is now 4 store rooms and a stable. It sold for £1,150,000.
It's nice to visit the places our ancestors lived as it makes them more than just names. I was tempted to go and knock on the door to tell the occupant that I had a claim on their house - but decided to let sleeping dogs lie !
It's nice to visit the places our ancestors lived as it makes them more than just names. I was tempted to go and knock on the door to tell the occupant that I had a claim on their house - but decided to let sleeping dogs lie !