THIS year Heritage Open Days in Farnham, taking place from September 10 to 13, will have the special theme of hops – the historic Farnham industry of hop growing which brought great wealth to the town in the 18th and 19th centuries.

If it hadn’t been for this great industry, when there were more than 1,000 acres of land given over to hop growing in and around the town, Farnham would not have looked the way it does today because it was the prosperous hop growers brewers and maltsters who built the Georgian buildings for which the town is now famous.

The good news is that hop growing and brewing are reviving again today, with hops being grown again around Farnham and local brews being concocted.

Visitors to Heritage Open Days can find out all about it, with exhibitions and talks all over the town, at the Maltings, at Farnham Pottery, at the museum and at the home of 3rd Farnham Scouts, Daniel Hall in Harts Yard.

At the Maltings at 11am on the Friday morning Rupert Thompson of the Hogs Back Brewery and Bill Biddell of Hampton Estates will be giving a talk.

Fresh samples of the historic Farnham White Bine and Cascade hops, and the Hogs Back Brewery’s well known ale TEA, brewed with 100 per cent Puttenham Fuggles, and Hopping Hog IPA, will be available.

An attractive brochure with all the details of Farnham’s Heritage Open Days can be found online at www.farnhamsociety.org.uk or www.farnham.gov.uk, or you can pick up a hard copy of the brochure at the town council offices and other public buildings round the town.