Farnham
The earliest evidence of human activity is from the Neolithic and, during the Roman period, tile making took place close to the town centre.Henry VIII is thought to have spent part of his childhood under the care of Bishop Richard Foxe and is known to have lived at Farnham Castle when he was 16.The town began to expand in the early Victorian period, stimulated in part by the opening of the railway in 1849 and the arrival of the army in nearby Aldershot in 1855.Notable buildings in the civil parish include the ruins of Waverley Abbey and the 18th century Willmer House, now the location of the Museum of Farnham.Politician William Cobbett and writer George Sturt were both born in Farnham, as was Maud Gonne, the Irish republican suffragette.The name is thought to derive from the Old English words fearn and ham and is generally agreed to mean "homestead or enclosure where ferns grow".[3][4] Farnham's history and present status are mainly the result of its geography; a combination of river, streams, fresh water springs and varied soils, together with a temperate climate, was attractive in prehistoric times.The geology of the area continues to influence the town, both in terms of communications, scenic and botanic variety and the main local industries of agriculture and minerals extraction.The land rises to more than 180 metres (590 feet) above sea level (ASL) to the north of the town at Caesar's Camp which, with the northern part of the park, lies on gravel beds.The nearest official weather station to Farnham is Alice Holt Lodge, just under 3+1⁄2 miles (6 kilometres) southwest of the town centre.[14] Additionally prehistoric animal bones, sometimes found together with the aforementioned flint tools in deep gravel pits such as a woolly mammoth tusk, excavated in Badshot Lea at the start of the 21st century.This monument lay on the route of the prehistoric trackway known as the Harrow Way or Harroway, which passes through Farnham Park, and a sarsen stone still stands nearby, which is believed to have marked the safe crossing point of a marshy area near the present Shepherd and Flock roundabout.Two bronze hoards have been discovered on Crooksbury Hill,[17] and further artefacts have been found, particularly at sites in Green Lane and near the Bourne spring in Farnham Park.In the 7th century, Surrey passed into the hands of King Caedwalla of Wessex, who also conquered Kent and Sussex, and founded a monastery at Farnham in 686.In 892 Surrey was the scene of another major battle when a large Danish army, variously reported at 200, 250 and 350 ship-loads, moved west from its encampment in Kent and raided in Hampshire and Berkshire.Withdrawing with their loot, the Danes were intercepted and defeated at Farnham by an army led by Alfred the Great's son, the future Edward the Elder, and fled across the Thames towards Essex.As the King's forces moved southwards, taking Oxford, Reading and Windsor, the garrison commander at Farnham (a noted poet), Captain George Wither, decided to evacuate the castle; the new High Sheriff of Surrey (John Denham, a Royalist sympathiser and another noted poet) then occupied the vacant castle with 100 armed supporters.The defenders refused to surrender but Waller's men used a petard to destroy the castle gates and overcame them, with only one fatality, and took the High Sheriff prisoner.Further reinforcement by three regiments from London, 4,000 strong under Waller's command arrived in Farnham that October prior to an unsuccessful foray to recapture Winchester from the Royalists.Eight thousand Royalists under Ralph Hopton (a former friend of Waller) advanced on Farnham from the west and skirmishes took place on the outskirts of town.The following March, Oliver Cromwell stayed at Farnham for discussions concerning the marriage of his daughter to a Hampshire gentleman, although some historians have speculated that this was cover for secret negotiations with the King.That night the King lodged at Culver Hall (now Vernon House) in West Street before the party continued to London for Charles's trial and execution in January 1649.The fast link with London meant city businessmen could think of having a house in the country and still be in close contact with the office; Farnham thereby became an early example of a 'commuter town'.[50] The Farnham Maltings hosts a monthly market selling arts, crafts, antiques and bric-a-brac[51] with specialist fairs and festivals held there on a less regular basis.[55][better source needed] The museum was founded in 1961 to provide the Farnham community with a collection dedicated to the history of the local area in an elegant Grade I listed Georgian townhouse which still retains many original features, including a walled garden.The former Bishops' Palace of the castle is now a training and conference centre,[60] which also manages the keep, recently made more accessible by a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant.Farnham Maltings has diverse concerts including opera, folk and acoustic music gigs, band evenings and stand up comedy nights, as well as shows and workshops for younger people.The Maltings is a creative arts centre, catering for all ages, with workshops, clubs, groups and sessions involved in craft, theatre, music and writing, including Rock Choir, amongst others.[78] It was in Farnham, whilst living at Black Lake Cottage, a remote woodland retreat near Tilford, that J. M. Barrie was inspired to write Peter Pan.It provides a habitat for bird species, including reed warblers and sand martins,[109] and has been designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.
Farnham (disambiguation)FarehamFavershamMarket towncivil parishSurreyDensityOS grid referenceDistrictWaverleyShire countyRegionSouth EastCountryEnglandSovereign statePost townPostcode districtDialling codePoliceAmbulanceSouth East CoastUK ParliamentFarnham and BordonLondonBorough of WaverleycountyHampshireRiver WeyThamesNorth DownsBadshot LeaWreccleshamwoolly mammothNeolithicRoman periodBishops of Winchesterthe castleBishop Henry de BloisHenry VIIIBishop Richard Foxemedieval periodkerseywoollenearly modern periodbrewingthe railwayLocal Government Act 1972town councilpotteryUniversity for the Creative ArtsWaverley AbbeyWillmer HouseWilliam CobbettGeorge SturtMaud Gonnesuffragettewatercolour artistWilliam Herbert AllenFormula OneMike HawthornEngland cricketerGraham ThorpeEngland rugby union captainJonny WilkinsonAnglo-Saxon ChronicleDomesday BookOld EnglishhomesteadenclosuregeographyTilfordRiver ThamesWeybridgegeologicalHog's BackHampshire Downsswallow holesstratumGault ClayUpper GreensandLower Greensandprecipitationhistoryhunter-gatherersPaleolithicStone AgeHandaxesantiquarianssettlementMesolithicpit dwellingsflint-knappinglong barrowprehistoric trackwayHarrow WaysarsenBronze AgebarrowsElsteadurnfieldHill fortsIron AgeCaesar's CampconglomeratebouldersBelgicAtrebatesCommiusCaesarSilchesterChichesterAlice Holt ForestWilliam StukeleyVindomisNeathamWoolmer ForestWanboroughKing CaedwallaAnglo-SaxonsWest SaxonCaedwalladioceseWinchesterBishop of Winchestermajor battle