The Society is proud of its publishing record. We are delighted to announce the publication of our latest volume: Lyminge a history Part 14 which is on sale now. Just follow the link to discover more.
Lyminge a history series
The idea of producing a written history of the parish came from the late Duncan Harrington in 2008. Duncan was a local resident and professional historian. He served as editor for volumes 4 to 11 and wrote many chapters for the series, drawing upon his vast knowledge of local history. Although Duncan sadly died in 2023, the mantle of editor has been taken on by Rob Baldwin, another local historian and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London. New volumes of Lyminge a history continue to be published annually.
The series records aspects of the social history of the parish, focusing on its people, buildings and businesses, with some background covering its natural history and the geophysical attributes of the land on which it sits.
We have avoided the timeline style of history and in its place we publish on themes, sometimes devoting a whole volume to a subject, and sometimes providing an eclectic mix of subjects, always seeking where possible to relate the past to present.
For example, Part 3 deals primarily with World War Two and its effects on the lives of the parishioners. Part 5 looks at the war service of men commemorated on the parish War Memorial.
Wherever possible we illustrate the text with copies of contemporary photographs, drawings, maps and paintings, licensed where necessary. We are grateful to the national institutions that make such images available free of charge because of the non-commercial objects of the society.
For a full list of volumes click here. Click each item for a chapter synopsis.
The contributors are drawn from local residents, enthusiastic amateur and professional historians.
The recordings of the natural sciences come from professionals in their own field and finally we have been privileged to be able to edit and adapt articles from our extensive archive taking contemporary accounts of events and lives and bringing them into the 21st century.
As all the contributors volunteer their time and knowledge giving their work to the Society for publication free of charge, for which we are very grateful, we can produce the volumes at very reasonable cost.
The volumes costs £5.00 each for parts 1-5, £6 for part 6 and 7 and £7 for parts 8-13. Our latest publication, Lyminge a history Part 14 is now available and the cost is £8.00, maintaining the cover price at the same real level since we began publication in 2010.
The rise in printing costs over the years is the primary reason for the difference in pricing, and in later publications we have introduced full colour to those illustrations where the original is in colour.
Guides
These are published so that visitors have a useful set of guidebooks to our parish and the local area and only cost £2.00 each. They not only introduce readers to the villages but offer guided walks around the area and the church.
Lyminge – a guided walk
Is a booklet which takes the reader on a tour of the village of Lyminge highlighting the historic and curious features which can be found in our highways and byways.
Etchinghill Guide
This guide was completely re-written in 2014 which enabled the author to not only update the text but to also enlarge the content incorporating three illustrated local circular walks. As with the Lyminge Guide the reader is taken on an historical tour including some of the most beautiful views of the parish.
Lyminge Church & Graveyard Guide
The Lyminge Church and Graveyard Guide is now out of print but it is hoped it will be updated in due course.
Future publications
The society is delighted to announce that Lyminge a History Part 14 is now available. See our publications page to purchase online.