farnham heritage trail · 2017. 3. 8. · his watchmaker’s and jeweller’s shop in this...
TRANSCRIPT
FARNHAMHERITAGE TRAIL
www.farnham.gov.uk Text © Jean Parratt Illustrations © Michael Blower Revised and reprinted 2015Designed and printed by Riverprint, Farnham 01252 722771
Farnham, particularly those visiting Waverley Abbey (the first Cistercian monastery in this country). They crossed the River Wey at Longbridge - where there was once a ford - then turn left along Abbey Street then right over what is now the bypass followed by the railway level crossing and then on to the abbey. (South Street was not constructed for another 742 years after the abbey had been founded). Turn and walk back to the pedestrian crossing and cross the road. Turn right and walk a few yards to reach the foot of Castle Street where this tour began.It is hoped that, having followed the route, you have spent an enjoyable hour or two on a whistle-stop tour of Farnham.
HERITAGE SURROUNDING FARNHAM
More information can be found in the Museum of Farnham, the public library and from books available in local bookshops including the fact that only one mile from the town centre is the site of what is recognised as the first village in England. It is marked by an inscribed stone and is not far from the Six Bells Roundabout (formerly known as the Tin Hut Roundabout).Remains of a Roman villa and bath (now grassed over or built upon) lie 200 yards from this Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) site and amongst the many famous people who are closely connected with, or lived in, the Farnham area are J.M. Barrie, Jonathan Swift, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Baden-Powell, Peter Pears, Dame Vera Lynn, Jessie Matthews and Liza Goddard. Waverley Abbey (1128), the first Cistercian monastery in this country, is just two miles from the town centre, the first two-seater petrol-driven car in this country was constructed in West Street and Mike Hawthorn, the racing driver who first brought the World Motor Racing Championship to Britain in 1958, was educated, lived and worked in this town before his untimely death just outside Guildford, in 1959.There is far more to Farnham than can be imagined and to paraphrase a well-known saying: "When a resident (or visitor) is tired of Farnham he (or she) must be tired of life."
At this point, plaque 6, is at the junction of Upper and M
iddle Church Lane. Look up above the porch of the house im
mediately opposite the church gate and find the nam
e of E. Bradly 1757 incised into one of the m
athematical tiles - not bricks as they appear. M
athematical
tiles were often used as a w
ay of avoiding the Brick Tax, which w
as introduced in 1784 to finance the w
ar with the Am
erican colonies. Note the hinges on the front door of the house. They w
ere m
ade when the forge w
as in existence next door. Turn right and walk past a row
of cottages. This street is frequently used by television com
panies for film sets in program
mes such as Foyle’s
War. At the end of this lane turn left into Low
er Church Lane. Note the gutter in the centre
of the road. Gutters thus positioned w
ere used as overground sewers in Tudor tim
es when
human body w
aste was throw
n from first floor w
indows into the street. At the end of Low
er Church Lane. N
umber 31 (on the right) is an exam
ple of a late 16th century building, with a
17th century frontage, which w
as refurbished in the late 20th century by the Farnham (Buildings
Preservation) Trust Ltd. in co-operation with W
averley Borough Council. At the entrance to
Wagon Yard car park turn right, w
alk between the parked vehicles, then left, and on to a
wooden bridge crossing the River W
ey. Note the heritage plaque on the bridge as you cross it.
(Daniel D
efoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, wrote, in 1722, that a m
an had told him that he had once counted 1,100 team
s of horses, all drawing w
agons or carts, loaded w
ith wheat, in Farnham
on this piece of ground). On the far side of the bridge w
alk to the right.
FAR
NH
AM
MA
LTING
SThis com
plex was purchased in the 1960s from
the Courage brew
ery, by Farnham
residents, to save it from dem
olition. Today Farnham M
altings is a multi-faceted arts and
comm
unity venue. A former tannery, during the heyday of Farnham
’s brewing industry it
was converted to becom
e a place where grain w
as malted - m
alt is one of the four ingredients of real ale, the others being w
ater, yeast and hops. Until the 1960s the River W
ey regularly broke its banks and flooded this area as far as half-w
ay up Dow
ning Street. W
idening the banks has now stopped the problem
. Continue walking past The
Maltings building and w
here it meets a narrow
road, find plaque 7. Turn left. Initially, this is a thoroughfare w
ithout pavements, so keep to the left,
walk until you reach a pavem
ent, and then go past a row of cottages, the
first of which is one of the oldest buildings in tow
n (1500s), the last one of w
hich has the sign Sampson Sam
pson Licensed Maltster painted on an
end wall. Look across the road to your right and see the inn w
here W
illiam C
obbett was born. At that tim
e the hostelry was know
n as the Jolly Farm
er. Turn left and walk over Longbridge then cross into
Gostrey M
eadow at plaque 8.
GO
STREY
MEA
DO
WG
o through the gate into the recreational area and follow the path beside the river, w
alk across the wooden bridge, go past the w
ar mem
orial and then to a pair of w
rought iron gates opening into South Street. On your w
ay look left and see the former C
hurch House (now
The Vineyard Church) w
ith a weather
vane showing it w
as built in 1909. When the building w
as completed a debt of £800 w
as still outstanding. In 1910 the first Farnham Pageant w
as held to offset this sum
. A sim
ilar pageant has been held three times since. In the 1920s N
oel ‘Boy’ McC
ormick, an international boxer w
ho lived in Farnham, used
this hall for sparring practice during training bouts. At the gates turn left into South Street. W
alk to the traffic island at the junction of South Street and Union R
oad and cross over at this point so you are outside the M
ethodist Church. To your right are the town council offices and a tourist inform
ation point. This building has some fine w
indows
and, in its entrance, a number of green tiles w
hich were m
ade at the celebrated Wrecclesham
pottery. Walk past the church and stop outside the Liberal
Club. Read the large plaque giving inform
ation about the building and its architect. This was the first public w
ork designed by Edwin Lutyens to be built.
Note the clever m
ixing of small and large bricks at the corner of the building. At the northern edge of this building find plaque 9.
VIC
TOR
IA G
AR
DEN
Walk along the path at the side of the Liberal Club. Look at the large
arch which is a continuation of the side of the Lutyens building. This w
as the entrance to the form
er swim
ming bath w
hich was built, by public
subscription, to comm
emorate Q
ueen Victoria’s Diam
ond Jubilee in 1897. The w
hite painted lettering can still be seen on the wooden lintels above the
two fram
es at each side of the arch which w
as another of Harold Falkner’s
designs. The concave marks in the bricks w
ere made by generations of
children with the pennies they held, w
hile waiting in line for access to the
bath. The Victoria Garden is behind the w
all and open to the public. Ahead of you lies Brightw
ells and Brightwell H
ouse. The former Redgrave
Theatre was once adjacent to Brightw
ell House and the house w
as used as the theatre's entertainm
ent suite. The latter was earlier know
n as Lowlands
when it w
as the home of the Paget fam
ily. Florence Nightingale w
as a frequent visitor to the Pagets. She also gave a silver com
munion set to
Farnham H
ospital. The composer, A
rthur Sullivan (later Sir Arthur), w
as
The William
Cobbett
Victoria Garden
Lower Church Lanealso a visitor to the Pagets and wrote An Idyll and dedicated it to them after one of his visits to Farnham. Return to South Street and look around you at this point. Note the square building at the junction of Victoria Road and facing the United Reformed Church. This was Farnham’s first School of Art. Later the art school moved to West Street. It is now in Falkner Road and is designated as the University for the Creative Arts. Continue to walk towards the town centre traffic lights noting the display, on a right-hand wall, dedicated to Farnham’s most famous sons.
THE WOOLMEADCross over the road at the traffic lights to the flower beds in the Woolmead open area. Plaque 10 is on the building on the extreme left. Note the milestone adjacent to the traffic light pole. It shows this point in Farnham as being 38 miles from London. This area was once the site of a toll bar at the entrance to the town. Look back to South Street down which you have just walked. This thoroughfare was completed in 1870 (at a cost of nearly £3,000) to connect the town to the railway station, which had been built in 1849. South Street is the only major town street in Farnham not to have buildings numbered consecutively.
THE BOROUGHCross the traffic lights diagonally, walk right and stop outside the Bush Hotel Courtyard. Here you can see plaque 11. The Bush Hotel is the town’s oldest hostelry where people have imbibed alcoholic beverages for over 500 years. It was a coaching inn, is reputed to have several ghosts and has an indoor sundial on the ceiling of its Oak Lounge. Leave The Bush Hotel, continue westward along The Borough. Stop at Borelli Yard, adjacent to a bank, where you will see plaque 12. Look up in the archway and find the date 1610. Go down the yard, under the next archway and look at the statue ‘Matriarch’ by Ben Franklin as well as the plaque giving information about a medieval tile kiln which was excavated here in the 1980s. Return to The Borough, turn left and continue walking on past the next building with its ‘By Appointment to Her Majesty’ fanlight above the door. This honour had been granted by Queen Victoria to Charles Borelli when he had his watchmaker’s and jeweller’s shop in this building. With Harold Falkner he was responsible for the sympathetic restoration of many buildings in Farnham during the early 20th century. Continue walking to the road junction of The Borough, West Street and Downing Street. This was another toll bar site where money had to be paid by travellers on horseback or in carriages to gain entry to The Borough. Look to your left down Downing Street. For centuries this was the route taken by everyone going south from
Farnham Town Council Council Offices, South Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7RN
01252 712667
St Andrew's Church
You can start your walk at any point on the circular route. Farnham Heritage Trail plaques can be found at each site, corresponding to the numbers on this map.
CASTLE STREETPlaque 1 is at the bottom of Castle Street. In the centre of the street, at this point, was the Market House which was also a jail. It was built in 1566 and demolished in 1866. See heritage plaque on the wall of a bank, which provides more historical details. Note the hop bines, moulded on the rainwater down-pipes of the building at the same corner, which is known as The Town Hall Buildings. Farnham hops were once the most expensive in England. Look up the road and see Farnham Castle, on which building started early in the 12th century and was a home to the Bishops of Winchester for more than 800 years. Start to walk up the street and look at the varied fanlights above doors. The first motoring offence to warrant a fine took place in this street in 1895. What is believed to be the first-ever Two-Minute Silence,
now observed annually on Armistice Day, was initiated by J. Alfred Eggar, an estate agent of Castle Street, and was first held in May 1916 near the archway leading to St. George’s Yard. Continue up the street and go into the courtyard leading to a restaurant. Look at the exterior of the building and find a plaque containing details about the Castle Theatre (earlier known as the Playhouse Theatre). Sir Michael Redgrave said that this was the most haunted theatre in which he had ever acted.
Go back into the main street and either walk on towards the castle or cross over the road near the red telephone box. If you walk on up the hill note the Nelson Arms with a hand-carved wooden sign and a few yards farther on you will reach the steps to Farnham Castle. These are constructed in blocks of seven steps and seven paces and had been built to facilitate a walk alone into the town by Bishop Richard Fox, who was blind for several years before his death in 1528. The Castle Keep is normally open daily and the castle, known also as The Bishop’s Palace, is open for guided tours on Wednesday afternoons. Check before going for availability and times. (To continue the tour return to the red telephone box and cross the road).
If you decide to cross the road, plaque 2 is on a wall at the right of the footpath leading into Long Garden Walk. Turn round to face Castle Street, look to your right and see the Golden Hind on top of the Town Hall Buildings. Look across the road to your left and note the plane trees planted in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The almshouses behind them were built in 1619 - see heritage plaque. Although many of the buildings in this street appear to be Georgian many are much older and only have Georgian façades. Turn back
into Long Garden Walk where rope was once made in lengths stretching from the Hop Blossom to the far side of Castle Street. Continue walking westward and on to the forecourt of a supermarket. Turn left into
LION AND LAMB YARDNote the heritage plaque on a wall before walking down the yard which is facing you. The lion and lamb teak sculpture was carved in the mid-1980s at the same time as most of the upper part of this yard was built, the exception being the listed barn on the left which is currently a retail outlet. At one time this barn was used as a garage for the repair of vehicles used by William
Farnham Castle
Castle Street
Lion and Lamb Yard
Kingham and Sons, wholesale and retail grocers, whose warehouse occupied the land on which the present supermarket now stands. At the bottom of the yard, note the old water pump on the right, and cellar doors of the former Lion and Lamb Hotel (the building from which this yard derived its name).
Plaque 3 is on the wall near the large gates, at the bottom of the yard. Turn right into West Street.
WEST STREETOn the wall of the buildng opposite observe the
roundel high up on the wall of the department store opposite you, showing the birthplace of Augustus Toplady, author of the hymn Rock of Ages. Continue along the pavement,
past the post office and noting as you go the unusual building in Malthouse Yard, once
owned by a hop garden tallyman, and a rare example of an 18th century shop front at 104a.
It was brought from a former pastrycook’s in The Cornhill, London, by Harold Falkner
(one of the town’s most famous, but eccentric, architects). He erected this
shop front behind specially construct-ed giraffe-like pillars, in 1950.
Stop at the corner of the lane next to a timber-framed building (98 and 99 West Street) on which is plaque 4. The lane running northward is Timber Close, which is believed to be the place of the construction, in 1395, of the hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall, in London, where it can still be seen today. After construction in Farnham, it was then taken, piece by piece, to London and erected there. Cross The Hart and continue along the road until you reach a grassy area known as College Gardens on which are small bungalows. Note the military college details on a heritage plaque in the grass. Although William Willett, the man who originated the idea of daylight saving, was born in a cottage at this site in 1856, this detail is not recorded here.
Cross the road and enter the Museum of Farnham, at number 38, which is situated in a Grade I listed Georgian building. Here the visitor can find thousands of artefacts pertinent to Farnham and its unique history as well as an
excellent local history library. Entry to the museum and its walled garden is free. It is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. Turn right on leaving the
museum and walk back towards the town centre. Stop and look at 28, West Street. This building, known as Vernon House, has a ceramic roundel on a wall, stating that
King Charles I stayed in the house (earlier known as Culver Hall) for one night, as a prisoner, before going to London, for trial and eventual execution. He gave his host,
Sir Henry Vernon, his morning cap in thanks for his hospitality. Made in blue silk with gold and silver threadwork this can now be seen in the Museum of Farnham.
CENTRAL FARNHAMRemember when walking about in Farnham that all the main thoroughfares - Castle
Street, West Street, East Street, Downing Street and The Borough are numbered consecutively and not alternately (evens on one side and odds on the other) as is more usual. Walk past Vernon
House and then the Bishop’s Table Hotel at 27, West Street, both of which are reputed to be haunted, and stop outside number 25, the large Victorian building a few yards farther on which is the Farnham Adult
Learning Centre. Farnham has a long history of first-class education and in the past this building has been used as Farnham Grammar School, Farnham Girls’ Grammar School and Farnham School of Art. At 24, West Street is Harold
Falkner’s house carrying a heritage plaque. Harold Falkner and his friend, Charles Borelli, had a profound influence on architectural aspects of Farnham today. Continue to walk to the pedestrian crossing lights. Stop at plaque 5 which is on the wall of
Church Passage. This passage is also known as Streaky Bacon Lane. Look at the setts beneath your feet for the reason! William Kingham’s bacon smoking factory once occupied the building on your right. You are now approaching St. Andrew’s Parish Church, one of the largest parish churches in Surrey. Handboards inside give its history. Legend states that its womenfolk, from a vantage point on a former tower on this church, saved the town when the Danes invaded Farnham in the 9th century. William Cobbett’s tomb is outside the church’s main door. Despite being born into poverty in 1763, he rose to become an MP, an advocate of political reform and an author of note (his most well known work being Rural Rides). His influence can be still seen today as founder of the present Hansard. He died in 1835. Continue walking down the left path to the main churchyard entrance and note the gates constructed in memory of a pet dog - details at ground level on the left pillar.
From Alton
F
rom Waterloo
P
P
P
P
The H
art
Castle Hill
Castle Street
Park Row
Bear Lan
e
Woolmead Rd
A325 West Street The Borough East Street
Do
wn
ing
Street
Union Road
Victoria Road
Mid
dle
Ch
urch
Lane
LowerChurch Lane
Sou
th Street
Red Lion Lane
Gostrey Meadow
Abbey Street
Firg
rove
Hill
A28
7
From Alton A31 Farnham Bypass
A31 From Guildford & London
Station Road
From Frensham& Hindhead
B3001
A31 from Alton
River Wey
Station
From Tilford
Lion & LambYard
P
P
Bo
relliYard
Long GardenWalk
2
A287 From Fleet& Odiham (M3)
FarnhamPark
University for the Creative Arts
FarnhamCastle
Willmer House(The Museumof Farnham)
Farnham Maltings
UpperChurch Lane
CouncilOffices
Brightwells
Cambridge
Place
SportsCentre
TheWoolmead
WC
To WaverleyAbbey
VictoriaGarden
ChurchPassage
Ivy LaneFarnhamLibrary
6
11112
4
5
3
8
9
BridgeSquare
St Andrew’s Church
FarnhamWar Memorial
Bishop’sSteps
WC
To Farnham Pottery,Wrecclesham
Lion&LambWay
WC
7
P
10
KEY Public footpaths:
Route:
Plaque: 111
West Street
You can start your walk at any point on the circular route. Farnham Heritage Trail plaques can be found at each site, corresponding to the numbers on this map.
CASTLE STREETPlaque 1 is at the bottom of Castle Street. In the centre of the street, at this point, was the Market House which was also a jail. It was built in 1566 and demolished in 1866. See heritage plaque on the wall of a bank, which provides more historical details. Note the hop bines, moulded on the rainwater down-pipes of the building at the same corner, which is known as The Town Hall Buildings. Farnham hops were once the most expensive in England. Look up the road and see Farnham Castle, on which building started early in the 12th century and was a home to the Bishops of Winchester for more than 800 years. Start to walk up the street and look at the varied fanlights above doors. The first motoring offence to warrant a fine took place in this street in 1895. What is believed to be the first-ever Two-Minute Silence,
now observed annually on Armistice Day, was initiated by J. Alfred Eggar, an estate agent of Castle Street, and was first held in May 1916 near the archway leading to St. George’s Yard. Continue up the street and go into the courtyard leading to a restaurant. Look at the exterior of the building and find a plaque containing details about the Castle Theatre (earlier known as the Playhouse Theatre). Sir Michael Redgrave said that this was the most haunted theatre in which he had ever acted.
Go back into the main street and either walk on towards the castle or cross over the road near the red telephone box. If you walk on up the hill note the Nelson Arms with a hand-carved wooden sign and a few yards farther on you will reach the steps to Farnham Castle. These are constructed in blocks of seven steps and seven paces and had been built to facilitate a walk alone into the town by Bishop Richard Fox, who was blind for several years before his death in 1528. The Castle Keep is normally open daily and the castle, known also as The Bishop’s Palace, is open for guided tours on Wednesday afternoons. Check before going for availability and times. (To continue the tour return to the red telephone box and cross the road).
If you decide to cross the road, plaque 2 is on a wall at the right of the footpath leading into Long Garden Walk. Turn round to face Castle Street, look to your right and see the Golden Hind on top of the Town Hall Buildings. Look across the road to your left and note the plane trees planted in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The almshouses behind them were built in 1619 - see heritage plaque. Although many of the buildings in this street appear to be Georgian many are much older and only have Georgian façades. Turn back
into Long Garden Walk where rope was once made in lengths stretching from the Hop Blossom to the far side of Castle Street. Continue walking westward and on to the forecourt of a supermarket. Turn left into
LION AND LAMB YARDNote the heritage plaque on a wall before walking down the yard which is facing you. The lion and lamb teak sculpture was carved in the mid-1980s at the same time as most of the upper part of this yard was built, the exception being the listed barn on the left which is currently a retail outlet. At one time this barn was used as a garage for the repair of vehicles used by William
Farnham Castle
Castle Street
Lion and Lamb Yard
Kingham and Sons, wholesale and retail grocers, whose warehouse occupied the land on which the present supermarket now stands. At the bottom of the yard, note the old water pump on the right, and cellar doors of the former Lion and Lamb Hotel (the building from which this yard derived its name).
Plaque 3 is on the wall near the large gates, at the bottom of the yard. Turn right into West Street.
WEST STREETOn the wall of the buildng opposite observe the
roundel high up on the wall of the department store opposite you, showing the birthplace of Augustus Toplady, author of the hymn Rock of Ages. Continue along the pavement,
past the post office and noting as you go the unusual building in Malthouse Yard, once
owned by a hop garden tallyman, and a rare example of an 18th century shop front at 104a.
It was brought from a former pastrycook’s in The Cornhill, London, by Harold Falkner
(one of the town’s most famous, but eccentric, architects). He erected this
shop front behind specially construct-ed giraffe-like pillars, in 1950.
Stop at the corner of the lane next to a timber-framed building (98 and 99 West Street) on which is plaque 4. The lane running northward is Timber Close, which is believed to be the place of the construction, in 1395, of the hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall, in London, where it can still be seen today. After construction in Farnham, it was then taken, piece by piece, to London and erected there. Cross The Hart and continue along the road until you reach a grassy area known as College Gardens on which are small bungalows. Note the military college details on a heritage plaque in the grass. Although William Willett, the man who originated the idea of daylight saving, was born in a cottage at this site in 1856, this detail is not recorded here.
Cross the road and enter the Museum of Farnham, at number 38, which is situated in a Grade I listed Georgian building. Here the visitor can find thousands of artefacts pertinent to Farnham and its unique history as well as an
excellent local history library. Entry to the museum and its walled garden is free. It is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. Turn right on leaving the
museum and walk back towards the town centre. Stop and look at 28, West Street. This building, known as Vernon House, has a ceramic roundel on a wall, stating that
King Charles I stayed in the house (earlier known as Culver Hall) for one night, as a prisoner, before going to London, for trial and eventual execution. He gave his host,
Sir Henry Vernon, his morning cap in thanks for his hospitality. Made in blue silk with gold and silver threadwork this can now be seen in the Museum of Farnham.
CENTRAL FARNHAMRemember when walking about in Farnham that all the main thoroughfares - Castle
Street, West Street, East Street, Downing Street and The Borough are numbered consecutively and not alternately (evens on one side and odds on the other) as is more usual. Walk past Vernon
House and then the Bishop’s Table Hotel at 27, West Street, both of which are reputed to be haunted, and stop outside number 25, the large Victorian building a few yards farther on which is the Farnham Adult
Learning Centre. Farnham has a long history of first-class education and in the past this building has been used as Farnham Grammar School, Farnham Girls’ Grammar School and Farnham School of Art. At 24, West Street is Harold
Falkner’s house carrying a heritage plaque. Harold Falkner and his friend, Charles Borelli, had a profound influence on architectural aspects of Farnham today. Continue to walk to the pedestrian crossing lights. Stop at plaque 5 which is on the wall of
Church Passage. This passage is also known as Streaky Bacon Lane. Look at the setts beneath your feet for the reason! William Kingham’s bacon smoking factory once occupied the building on your right. You are now approaching St. Andrew’s Parish Church, one of the largest parish churches in Surrey. Handboards inside give its history. Legend states that its womenfolk, from a vantage point on a former tower on this church, saved the town when the Danes invaded Farnham in the 9th century. William Cobbett’s tomb is outside the church’s main door. Despite being born into poverty in 1763, he rose to become an MP, an advocate of political reform and an author of note (his most well known work being Rural Rides). His influence can be still seen today as founder of the present Hansard. He died in 1835. Continue walking down the left path to the main churchyard entrance and note the gates constructed in memory of a pet dog - details at ground level on the left pillar.
From Alton
F
rom Waterloo
P
P
P
P
The H
art
Castle Hill
Castle Street
Park Row
Bear Lan
e
Woolmead Rd
A325 West Street The Borough East Street
Do
wn
ing
Street
Union Road
Victoria Road
Mid
dle
Ch
urch
Lane
LowerChurch Lane
Sou
th Street
Red Lion Lane
Gostrey Meadow
Abbey Street
Firg
rove
Hill
A28
7
From Alton A31 Farnham Bypass
A31 From Guildford & London
Station Road
From Frensham& Hindhead
B3001
A31 from Alton
River Wey
Station
From Tilford
Lion & LambYard
P
P
Bo
relliYard
Long GardenWalk
2
A287 From Fleet& Odiham (M3)
FarnhamPark
University for the Creative Arts
FarnhamCastle
Willmer House(The Museumof Farnham)
Farnham Maltings
UpperChurch Lane
CouncilOffices
BrightwellsCam
bridgePlace
SportsCentre
TheWoolmead
WC
To WaverleyAbbey
VictoriaGarden
ChurchPassage
Ivy LaneFarnhamLibrary
6
11112
4
5
3
8
9
BridgeSquare
St Andrew’s Church
FarnhamWar Memorial
Bishop’sSteps
WC
To Farnham Pottery,Wrecclesham
Lion&LambWay
WC
7
P
10
KEY Public footpaths:
Route:
Plaque: 111
West Street
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d. Tu
rn r
ight
and
walk
a fe
w y
ards
to re
ach
the
foot
of
Cas
tle S
tree
t whe
re th
is to
ur b
egan
.It
is ho
ped
that
, ha
ving
fol
low
ed t
he r
oute
, yo
u ha
ve s
pent
an
enjo
yabl
e ho
ur o
r tw
o on
a w
histl
e-sto
p to
ur o
f Far
nham
.
HER
ITA
GE
SUR
RO
UN
DIN
G F
AR
NH
AM
Mor
e in
form
atio
n ca
n be
foun
d in
the
Mus
eum
of F
arnh
am, t
he
publ
ic lib
rary
and
from
boo
ks av
ailab
le in
loca
l boo
ksho
ps in
clud
ing
the
fact t
hat o
nly
one
mile
from
the
tow
n ce
ntre
is th
e sit
e of
wha
t is
reco
gnise
d as
the
firs
t vi
llage
in
Engl
and.
It
is m
arke
d by
an
insc
ribed
sto
ne a
nd i
s no
t far
fro
m t
he S
ix B
ells
Roun
dabo
ut
(form
erly
kno
wn
as th
e Tin
Hut
Rou
ndab
out).
Rem
ains
of a
Rom
an v
illa
and
bath
(no
w
gras
sed
over
or
built
upo
n) l
ie 2
00 y
ards
fro
m th
is M
esol
ithic
(Mid
dle
Ston
e Age
) site
an
d am
ongs
t the
man
y fam
ous
peop
le w
ho
are
clos
ely
conn
ecte
d w
ith, o
r liv
ed in
, the
Fa
rnha
m a
rea
are
J.M.
Barr
ie,
Jona
than
Sw
ift,
Alfre
d Lo
rd T
enny
son,
Sir
Arth
ur
Con
an D
oyle
, Ro
bert
Bad
en-P
owel
l, Pe
ter
Pear
s, D
ame V
era L
ynn,
Jess
ie M
atth
ews a
nd
Liza
God
dard
. W
aver
ley
Abbe
y (1
128)
, th
e fir
st C
ister
cian
m
onas
tery
in th
is co
untr
y, is
just
two
mile
s fro
m th
e to
wn
cent
re,
the f
irst t
wo-
seat
er pe
trol
-driv
en ca
r in t
his c
ount
ry w
as co
nstr
ucte
d in
Wes
t St
reet
and
Mik
e H
awth
orn,
the
rac
ing
driv
er w
ho f
irst
brou
ght t
he W
orld
Mot
or R
acin
g C
ham
pion
ship
to B
ritain
in 1
958,
w
as e
duca
ted,
live
d an
d w
orke
d in
this
tow
n be
fore
his
untim
ely
deat
h ju
st ou
tside
Gui
ldfo
rd, i
n 19
59.
Ther
e is
far m
ore
to F
arnh
am t
han
can
be i
mag
ined
and
to
para
phra
se a
wel
l-kno
wn
sayi
ng: "
Whe
n a
resid
ent
(or
visit
or)
is tir
ed o
f Far
nham
he
(or s
he) m
ust b
e tir
ed o
f life
."
At this point, plaque 6, is at the junction of Upper and Middle Church Lane. Look up above the porch of the house immediately opposite the church gate and find the name of E. Bradly 1757 incised into one of the mathematical tiles - not bricks as they appear. Mathematical tiles were often used as a way of avoiding the Brick Tax, which was introduced in 1784 to finance the war with the American colonies. Note the hinges on the front door of the house. They were made when the forge was in existence next door. Turn right and walk past a row of cottages. This street is frequently used by television companies for film sets in programmes such as Foyle’s War. At the end of this lane turn left into Lower Church Lane. Note the gutter in the centre of the road. Gutters thus positioned were used as overground sewers in Tudor times when human body waste was thrown from first floor windows into the street. At the end of Lower Church Lane. Number 31 (on the right) is an example of a late 16th century building, with a 17th century frontage, which was refurbished in the late 20th century by the Farnham (Buildings Preservation) Trust Ltd. in co-operation with Waverley Borough Council. At the entrance to Wagon Yard car park turn right, walk between the parked vehicles, then left, and on to a wooden bridge crossing the River Wey. Note the heritage plaque on the bridge as you cross it.
(Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, wrote, in 1722, that a man had told him that he had once counted 1,100 teams of horses, all drawing wagons or carts, loaded with wheat, in Farnham on this piece of ground). On the far side of the bridge walk to the right.
FARNHAM MALTINGSThis complex was purchased in the 1960s from the Courage brewery, by Farnham residents, to save it from demolition. Today Farnham Maltings is a multi-faceted arts and community venue. A former tannery, during the heyday of Farnham’s brewing industry it was converted to become a place where grain was malted - malt is one of the four ingredients of real ale, the others being water, yeast and hops. Until the 1960s the River Wey regularly broke its banks and flooded this area as far as half-way up Downing Street. Widening the banks has now stopped the problem. Continue walking past The Maltings building and where it meets a narrow road, find plaque 7. Turn left. Initially, this is a thoroughfare without pavements, so keep to the left, walk until you reach a pavement, and then go past a row of cottages, the first of which is one of the oldest buildings in town (1500s), the last one of which has the sign Sampson Sampson Licensed Maltster painted on an end wall. Look across the road to your right and see the inn where William Cobbett was born. At that time the hostelry was known as the Jolly Farmer. Turn left and walk over Longbridge then cross into Gostrey Meadow at plaque 8.
GOSTREY MEADOWGo through the gate into the recreational area and follow the path beside the river, walk across the wooden bridge, go past the war memorial and then to a pair of wrought iron gates opening into South Street. On your way look left and see the former Church House (now The Vineyard Church) with a weather vane showing it was built in 1909. When the building was completed a debt of £800 was still outstanding. In 1910 the first Farnham Pageant was held to offset this sum. A similar pageant has been held three times since. In the 1920s Noel ‘Boy’ McCormick, an international boxer who lived in Farnham, used this hall for sparring practice during training bouts. At the gates turn left into South Street. Walk to the traffic island at the junction of South Street and Union Road and cross over at this point so you are outside the Methodist Church. To your right are the town council offices and a tourist information point. This building has some fine windows and, in its entrance, a number of green tiles which were made at the celebrated Wrecclesham pottery. Walk past the church and stop outside the Liberal Club. Read the large plaque giving information about the building and its architect. This was the first public work designed by Edwin Lutyens to be built. Note the clever mixing of small and large bricks at the corner of the building. At the northern edge of this building find plaque 9.
VICTORIA GARDENWalk along the path at the side of the Liberal Club. Look at the large arch which is a continuation of the side of the Lutyens building. This was the entrance to the former swimming bath which was built, by public subscription, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The white painted lettering can still be seen on the wooden lintels above the two frames at each side of the arch which was another of Harold Falkner’s designs. The concave marks in the bricks were made by generations of children with the pennies they held, while waiting in line for access to the bath. The Victoria Garden is behind the wall and open to the public. Ahead of you lies Brightwells and Brightwell House. The former Redgrave Theatre was once adjacent to Brightwell House and the house was used as the theatre's entertainment suite. The latter was earlier known as Lowlands when it was the home of the Paget family. Florence Nightingale was a frequent visitor to the Pagets. She also gave a silver communion set to Farnham Hospital. The composer, Arthur Sullivan (later Sir Arthur), was
The William Cobbett
Victoria Garden
Lower Church Lane
also
a v
isito
r to
the
Page
ts a
nd w
rote
An
Idyl
l and
ded
icat
ed it
to
them
afte
r on
e of
his
visit
s to
Farn
ham
. R
etur
n to
Sou
th S
tree
t an
d lo
ok a
roun
d yo
u at
thi
s po
int.
Not
e th
e sq
uare
bui
ldin
g at
the
jun
ctio
n of
Vic
toria
Roa
d an
d fa
cing
the
Uni
ted
Refo
rmed
Chu
rch.
Thi
s w
as F
arnh
am’s
first
Sc
hool
of A
rt. L
ater
the
art s
choo
l mov
ed to
Wes
t Str
eet.
It is
now
in
Fal
kner
Roa
d an
d is
desig
nate
d as
the
Uni
vers
ity f
or t
he
Cre
ativ
e Ar
ts. C
onti
nue
to w
alk
tow
ards
the
tow
n ce
ntre
tr
affic
ligh
ts n
otin
g th
e di
splay
, on
a rig
ht-h
and
wal
l, de
dica
ted
to F
arnh
am’s
mos
t fam
ous s
ons.
TH
E W
OO
LMEA
DCr
oss
over
the
roa
d at
the
tra
ffic
light
s to
the
flow
er b
eds
in
the W
oolm
ead
open
are
a. P
laqu
e 10
is o
n th
e bu
ildin
g on
th
e ex
trem
e le
ft. N
ote
the
mile
stone
adj
acen
t to
the
traf
fic li
ght
pole
. It
show
s th
is po
int
in F
arnh
am a
s be
ing
38 m
iles
from
Lo
ndon
. Thi
s are
a was
onc
e th
e sit
e of
a to
ll ba
r at t
he e
ntra
nce
to
the
tow
n. L
ook
back
to
Sout
h St
reet
dow
n w
hich
you
hav
e ju
st
walk
ed. T
his
thor
ough
fare
was
com
plet
ed in
187
0 (a
t a
cost
of
near
ly £
3,00
0) to
con
nect
the
tow
n to
the
railw
ay st
atio
n, w
hich
ha
d be
en b
uilt
in 1
849.
Sou
th S
tree
t is t
he o
nly
majo
r tow
n str
eet
in F
arnh
am n
ot to
hav
e bu
ildin
gs n
umbe
red
cons
ecut
ivel
y.
THE
BO
RO
UG
HCr
oss t
he tr
affic
ligh
ts d
iago
nally
, wal
k ri
ght a
nd st
op o
utsi
de
the
Bush
Hot
el C
ourt
yard
. Her
e yo
u ca
n se
e pl
aque
11.
The
Bush
Hot
el is
the t
own’
s old
est h
oste
lry w
here
peo
ple h
ave i
mbi
bed
alcoh
olic
beve
rage
s fo
r ov
er 5
00 y
ears
. It
was
a c
oach
ing
inn,
is
repu
ted
to h
ave
seve
ral g
hosts
and
has
an
indo
or s
undi
al on
the
ce
iling
of
its O
ak L
oung
e. L
eave
The
Bus
h H
otel
, co
ntin
ue
wes
twar
d al
ong T
he B
orou
gh. S
top
at B
orel
li Yar
d, a
djac
ent t
o a
bank
, whe
re y
ou w
ill se
e pl
aque
12.
Loo
k up
in th
e ar
chw
ay
and
find
the
date
161
0. G
o do
wn
the
yard
, und
er th
e ne
xt ar
chw
ay
and
look
at
the
statu
e ‘M
atria
rch’
by
Ben
Fran
klin
as
wel
l as
the
plaq
ue g
ivin
g in
form
atio
n ab
out
a m
ediev
al til
e ki
ln w
hich
was
ex
cava
ted
here
in th
e 19
80s.
Ret
urn
to T
he B
orou
gh, t
urn
left
an
d co
ntin
ue w
alkin
g on
pas
t th
e ne
xt b
uild
ing
with
its
‘By
Appo
intm
ent t
o H
er M
ajesty
’ fan
light
abov
e th
e do
or. T
his h
onou
r ha
d be
en g
rant
ed b
y Q
ueen
Vict
oria
to C
harle
s Bor
elli
whe
n he
had
hi
s wat
chm
aker
’s an
d jew
elle
r’s sh
op in
this
build
ing.
With
Har
old
Falk
ner h
e w
as re
spon
sible
for t
he sy
mpa
thet
ic re
stora
tion
of m
any
build
ings
in
Farn
ham
dur
ing
the
early
20t
h ce
ntur
y. Co
ntin
ue
wal
king
to th
e ro
ad ju
nctio
n of
The
Bor
ough
, Wes
t Str
eet a
nd
Dow
ning
Str
eet.
This
was
ano
ther
toll
bar
site
whe
re m
oney
had
to
be
paid
by
trav
elle
rs o
n ho
rseb
ack
or in
car
riage
s to
gain
ent
ry
to T
he B
orou
gh. L
ook
to y
our
left
dow
n D
owni
ng S
tree
t. Fo
r ce
ntur
ies
this
was
the
rout
e ta
ken
by e
very
one
goin
g so
uth
from
Farn
ham
Tow
n C
ounc
il C
ounc
il O
ffice
s, So
uth
Stre
et,
Farn
ham
, Sur
rey
GU
9 7R
N
0125
2 71
2667
St A
ndre
w's C
hurc
h