MEMBERS of Farnborough Women's Institute were taken back in time to the late 19th and the early 20th centuries as they listened to Jim Howard’s talk at last month’s meeting.

Mr Howard has built up a vast collection of slides depicting scenes of local villages from this period.

Some of the scenes were captured during the early days of photography when horse and cart was the everyday form of transport.

Mr Howard accompanied each slide with historical fact.

Some members contributed by adding their own local knowledge.

A workshouse dating from the 1840s originally occupied the site of the Princess Royal University Hospital and an aircraft factory used to be located behind The Change of Horses in Farnborough Village.

An iron foundry, which cast the bells for the churches of St Giles the Abbot, Farnborough and St Martins’s Chelsfield, could once be found on the corner of Blacksmith Lane, St Mary Cray.

Earlier in the month members were taken on a guided tour behind the stage of the three theatres within the National Theatre complex at Southbank.

Members benefited from being given information by a very enthusiastic and informative guide about the workings of the theatre, including the operation of scenery, the use of props and lighting effects.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 2pm in Farnborough Village Hall.

Visitors and new members are warmly welcomed.

For more information, call 01689 820541.