Are you a family member or an ancestor in one of the 100's of pictures?
The village of Aylesford has been a site of human settlement since Neolithic times, located at the lowest fording point over the River Medway. This collection of 220 old photographs and ephemera gives a comprehensive portrayal of the last 120 years or so of this long history and shows how the village’s buildings and inhabitants have changed. The first few chapters take the form of a tour around the village and its environs, with sections on the old village, the church, and the fourteenth-century bridge that helped consolidate Aylesford’s position as an important crossing point over the Medway. The Friars are also featured, including a group of photographs showing how the Carmelites have restored the buildings, many of which had been derelict since the dissolution. A series of pictures from before 1904 showcase Preston Hall and its estate. The penultimate chapter ventures further afield along the Medway, including Allington Castle, Malling Abbey, and Wouldham. Some evidence of Aylesford’s earliest inhabitants can also be found here in the form of Neolithic sarsen stones and barrows such as Kit’s Coty and the Coffin Stone. The final section portrays the village’s inhabitants, from late nineteenth-century agricultural labourers to street celebrations in recent decades. Most of the pictures are drawn from the archives of the Aylesford Society and from the author’s own collection. This book is sure to be appealing to all Aylesford residents, young and old, because it includes informative captions and a wealth of background information. ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 (PAID) Publisher: Tempus Publishing Limited Published: 1998 Price: £17.50 Softcover: 128 pages Lavishly illustrated This book is in excellent condition and would enhance any collection.
