A NEW plaque, giving information about the history of Longbridge straddling the River Wey between Gostrey Meadow and the Farnham Maltings, has been unveiled by the Mayor of Farnham, Pat Frost.

The plaque was donated by the Farnham Public Art Trust, and the unveiling took place in the presence of the trust’s president Charles Bone and other trustees. The deputy mayor John Ward and councillor Carole Cockburn were also present.

It reads: “The earliest reference to a bridge here, called Longbrigge, was in 1236. It is at the lowest point of the Farnham flood plain, and was probably the site of a ford.

“In the eighteenth century the bridge was made of brick and stone with the small arches. Its handrails and road surface were made of wood, giving it the local name of ‘The Clappers’, from the noise of cartwheels going over it.

“The present bridge dates from 1863, with alterations in the 1960s during flood works.”

At the unveiling, the chairman of the Farnham Public Art Trust, Sue Farrow, read out a message from another trustee, Bob Pickens, who had inspired the concept. 

He said: “A sense of belonging in a place can be created as much by the little public art surprise you find rounding a corner, as by a sculpture standing guard over a high street.”

This sentiment was endorsed by the mayor, who said she had already made a suggestion for another small public art project.