Farnham

Farnham lies in the west of Surrey, bordering on the county of Hampshire. Sitting above the River Wey and dominated by the Castle in the north, the town has a Georgian facade, often concealing Tudor and older structures. Walking through the streets, one can feel its history; buildings preserved to maintain their charm.

The town developed around the crossing point of roads from the north, south, east and west and in 1138, building was started on the Castle by the Bishop of Winchester, Henri du Blois.The Castle provided fortification for the west of Surrey and also provided accommodation for the Bishop of Winchester on his journeys to London, being about halfway. Through the centuries, many Kings and Queens also stayed at the Castle, including Mary Tudor and Queen Elizabeth I. During the Civil War, part of the Castle was damaged, making further occupation impossible. The town, however, was growing in importance during this period. In the 17th century, wheat from Sussex and Hampshire went by wagon to London and Farnham became a meeting place (market) for the farmers and merchants. Wheat was closely followed by hops, grown on land around the town, and brewing became a local industry bringing affluence to the town. When this declined in the middle of the 19th century, the railway arrived and effected the town considerably. It was the start of commuting. The fast train link to London meant that city businessmen could have a house in the country yet still be in easy contact with their 'office'. The Army, setting up camp at Aldershot in 1854, just three miles away, brought thousands of men and women to the area and housing was required for the Officers in the Farnham area. Farnham became a typical country town with a weekly cattle market, a variety of shops and businesses and varied social events. Thus Farnham entered another phase of its history which lasted until after the Second World War. After this, the population of Farnham increased because of easier commuting and the de-centralisation of businesses from London. More houses, shops, offices and factory units were required but great care was and still is taken with new development to ensure that the overall character of the town is maintained.

Walking down from the Castle into Castle Street, you will see fine Georgian houses on each side and a terrace of eight almshouses built in 1619. The Town Hall buildings with their colonnade and Bailiff's House are at the bottom; a 16th century Market House having been demolished in 1863. To the east, at the bottom of Castle Street lies The Borough. This is the oldest part of Farnham with courtyards dating back to the 16th Century and beyond. Proceeding into Downing Street, you will find Lower, Middle and Upper Church Lanes with their old cottages, all leading to the Parish Church of St. Andrew. There has been a church on this site since the 6th century; the present one begun in the 11th Century with later additions mainly in the 15th century. Church Passage will take you to West Street.
In West Street, you'll find the Farnham Museum and the Library, housed in two of the fine Georgian residences of that street. Many small court yards can be found off West Street including the Lion and Lamb Yard.

Situated beside the River Wey, the Maltings can be found. It began life as a tannery in the 18th century before being rebuilt as a brewery with maltings in the early 19th century. When the Army came to Aldershot in the 1850's, the whole building was turned into a maltings. The malt, made from soaking then subsequently roasting grain, was taken away to the brewery to be combined with hops and fermented into beer. In 1969, the Maltings was saved from demolition by the townspeople. It is now an Arts and Community Centre with a wide range of activities and events.