Getting to Know Farnham in Surrey

Farnham, in the heart of the Surrey countryside, is a charming blend of historic buildings and natural landscapes. Less than an hour from London this little market town has plenty to offer for a great day out.

The location of Farnham, on the banks of the River Wey has made it an important crossroads for centuries. It boasts several layers of architectural styles and a heritage that embraces industries from brewing to pottery. Bishops and royalty have stayed in its castle. More recently Farnham has been designated a town of arts and crafts. Its tourist information is currently housed in the Town Hall, a good place to start exploring.

The Town Hall in Farnham

The town hall on South Street was built in 1903 to replace the old town hall and corn exchange on The Borough. Significant population growth in Farnham had resulted from it becoming an early commuter town and being created an urban district in 1895. New civic offices were deemed necessary resulting in the construction of the municipal building on South Street in 1903. This Neo-Georgian style building served as the headquarters of the Farnham Urban District Council until 1974 when Farnham became part of the Waverley Borough Council. It was also the base for the local fire brigade then operating with horse-drawn carriages which were accommodated in the original building. During the 1990’s the building was extended at the back. Farnham Town Council (formed in 1984) acquired the building in 2011 to use as its offices and a meeting place. The meeting rooms were refurbished in 2015 when a new suite of rooms were added. It is also the tourist information office and a good place to start exploring the town. Just off South Street on … and through a grand archway is the pretty Victoria Garden.

Victoria Garden in Farnham

Victoria Garden has a fascination history. It was established on the site of the first open air swimming pool in Farnham. The pool was built in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. During the 1930s a shallow pool for learners was built next to the original pool. The construction of a new leisure centre with an indoor pool during the 1980s resulted in the closure of these pools and the site was abandoned. Its fortunes were revived during the 1990s by the reconstitution of the Swimming Baths trust that originally owned the pools. This trust reclaimed the site and raised sufficient funds to establish the gardens. Victoria Garden was opened in 1997. Amongst the flowers and other features here the Outdoor Bathing, a statue of little, shivering boy by Jane Jones is a visual reference to the history of the garden. This award-winning garden is run by volunteers who organise fund-raising events. Further along Victoria  Road are some very different gardens, in Brightwells Yard.

Brightwell Gardens and House in Farnham

Brightwell Gardens once surrounded Brightwell House built by a local builder and completed in 1795. The house was substantially remodelled in 1827 and the west wing, was added in 1852. Notable visitors who stayed in this house include Florence Nightingale. The house and grounds were acquired by the local municipality in 1920 and successive uses included a library, a health clinic and the offices of the local housing department. In 1967 the house was offered to the Farnham Repertory Theatre and partially demolished to build the Redgrave Theatre. This theatre closed in 1998. It was boarded up and neglected until it was demolished in 2019 and Brightwell House became part of a controversial new development featuring a mix of flats, shops and a multi-screen cinema. Known as Brightwells Yard, the landscaped gardens here feature a series of stunning sandstone figures created by renowned stone carver, Partick Walls. Ten life-sized figures represent some of the crafts that are part of the town’s heritage including glassblowing, weaving, brewing and cabinet-making. A celebration of Farnham’s fame as a world-class destination for arts and crafts. Further along South Street is The Borough.

The Borough in Farnham

The complex of historic buildings on the corner of The Borough and Castle Street comprise the Bailliff’s Hall, the old Town Hall and the Corn Exchange. The Bailliff’s Hall on the Borough was the first municipal building in Farnham. Completed in 1674 it was used until the mid-nineteenth century when the new town hall was commissioned . This Victorian Gothic Town Hall was built right on the corner of Castle Street using white bricks from Huntingdon. It was opened in 1866. It has a clock tower with a belfry and a spire. There were shops and a market hall on the ground floor and an assembly room above them. When the new town hall on South Street became operational this building was obsolete and was demolished in the late 1920s. It was replaced by a Neo-Georgian commercial complex that incorporates some original elements of the old Bailliff’s Hall. Around the corner of these buildings Castle Street leads up the hill to the castle itself.

Farnham Park in Farnham

Industry and agriculture have flourished in Farnham over the centuries but the one that brought most wealth to the town was the cultivation of hops in the rich soil of Farnham Valley. These hops were thought to be the best and top prices were paid for them. Evidence of this wealth can be seen in some of the finest examples of Georgian houses in the country along Castle Steet. This street leads to the castle but a prettier route is through Farnham Park accessed via Bear Street, off Castle Street. Farnham Park is a large medieval deer park surrounding the castle and overlooking the town. This park features a large children’s play area and a tree-lined avenue stretching for one kilometre offering impressive views of the town below. The park was established during the fourteenth century by which time Farnham had become an important residence of the Bishop of Winchester who would break journeys to and from London here. When the Bishop entertained royal guests they hunted in the park. One of several footpaths across the park leads to the castle.

Farnham Castle in Farnham

The twelfth century Farnham Castle is one of the few great medieval houses remaining in England today. It was built by the powerful and wealthy Bishops of Winchester and has served as an administrative centre, fortress and accommodation. The castle was seriously damaged during the English Civil War of the 1640s. It started the war as a Parliamentary stronghold. The Royalists launched a successful attack but the Parliamentarians took it back. The Bishops of Winchester returned in 1660 following the restitution of the monarchy. The castle was finally vacated by the Bishop of Guildford in 1956 and since then the castle and adjoining keep have undergone several renovations. Today the castle is managed by the Farnham Castle Trust and the keep is an English Heritage property. The latter includes a small exhibition. Guided tours are available around the castle but, following an extensive investment it is now a venue for private functions, weddings and other events and not open to the public. Walking back down to the town turn off Castle Hill into the Long Garden Walk then turning into the Lion and Lamb Courtyard.

The Lion and Lamb Courtyard in Farnham

The Lion and Lamb Yard occupies a sixteenth century coaching inn that was entered through an historic Tudor archway. A sensitive restoration of the old buildings surrounding that courtyard has resulted in an attractive shopping and dining area. In the centre is the namesake, the Lion and Lamb sculpture. This carving in teak was done by Edwin Russell in 1986. It is named after the nineteenth-century hotel that once stood at the West Street frontage of the courtyard. Exit the courtyard on to West Street, cross the road and take the Church Passage to the parish church of St Andrews.

St Andrews’ Church in Farnham

The beautiful Grade 1 listed Parish Church of St Andrew features a twelfth century chancel, a fifteenth century nave and the great east window was created by Augustus Pugin. These are just a few of the architectural interests in this building that has undergone award winning renovations by the renowned architect Ptolemy Dean. During the 1990s when substantial conservation and repair work was undertaken this included a re-ordering to create an infrastructure more suitable to the needs of a modern community. The church is surrounded by a large graveyard. It includes the recently renovated tomb of William Cobbett a Farnham resident who achieved fame as a political reformer and author. The house where he was born on Bridge is now a pub bearing his name. Close to the church is the Ashgate Gallery.

The New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham

The New Ashgate Gallery was opened in 1976 continuing Farnham’s reputation as a leader in arts and crafts which goes back to the opening of the Farnham School of Art in 1866. Around that time architects such as Edwin Lutyens and Harold Falkner, painters including George Watts and W.H. Allen, potters like Mary Watts and landscape gardeners including Gertrude Jekyll worked in the area. The school promoted the education in craft subjects as part of its curriculum, and built up a good reputation that has lasted to the present day. Craft courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are on offer at the University for the Creative Arts that succeeded the Art School. The Gallery offers a good selection of hand-crafted items and regularly hosts new exhibitions. It is close to The Maltings that has been redeveloped to promote the creative arts.

The Maltings in Farnham

Brewing began in the buildings known as The Maltings in 1845 and continued there until 1956 when the brewery moved to more suitable premises. The Maltings were left empty and were heading for dereliction when they were purchased by the people of Farnham in 1969. Since then, managed by the Farnham Trust, the buildings have been transformed into an arts and community centre. The aim is to encourage people to create and watch the best art possible. The Maltings has several resident theatre and dance companies and sixteen studios that specialise in a range of activities from photography to hairdressing. A monthly market also takes place here. The Farnham Trust is also responsible for the Farnham Museum in the centre of town.

Farnham Museum in Farnham

Farnham Museum occupies the historic Willmer House, a Grade 1 listed Georgian town house and an excellent example of this architectural style. The house was built in 1718 by the first private owner. Since then, as well as being a private residence, it has been used as both a girls’ and then a boys’ school, a dental surgery and housed a unit of the Canadian Army during the Second World War. In 1961 the house was taken on by the local authority and converted into a museum. This museum relates the history of the town and also features an extensive art and craft collection. Opposite the museum, in a fifteenth-century cottage, the Guitar Village features an extraordinary original mural on the first floor as well as an award winning collection of guitars. Both are worth a visit.

Farnham is a town bursting with historic buildings and art installations, for more information click here.