Industrious

This morning we were down in Farnham bright and early (for us) to join a guided walk around the town, arranged by the Farnham Society for Heritage Week. It was focused on the history of Farnham's industries and was absolutely fascinating. We walked the length and breadth of the town while our guide pointed out historical buildings and explained how industries had developed and come and gone over the centuries. I learned so much and, I am ashamed to say, saw things that I had never seen before although I had walked past on numerous occasions. I really need to look more.

Our guide pointed out where corsets and toothbrushes had been manufactured as well as the locations of the more prosaic industries of brewing and mineral water manufacture. There was also an early car building workshop on the tour and the site of a large laundry.

Perhaps the most interesting bit of the walk was the well hidden passageway that our guide took us into. The passageway, passing behind the main street, was long narrow and remarkably straight. It turned out to be a rope walk, which was used to produce the twine that was used for stringing the hop fields which were a key industry in the town and the surrounding area. The blip shows the site of the public baths, build to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

Mr Flossmo and I have resolved to go back and take a closer look at some of the buildings. Hopefully there will be more interesting blips.

I had to have a lie down for a couple of hours after I came back (the walk lasted nearly three hours). Later I ventured out again with a new walking friend and we walked for almost two hours more. Fortunately she was happy to adopt a relatively slow pace.

An early night beckons and a less strenuous day tomorrow.