Farnham Museums, Castle and Local History

Museum of Farnham

The museum is at 38 West Street, Farnham GU9 7DX. Its visit page says it is free for all and open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidays and Christmas, and gives 01252 715094. It was running a restoration project when we read it, and said the front facade was covered in scaffolding, so check the page for the current position. It says the nearest car park is Lower Hart next to Waitrose, and there is two hour on-street parking outside, with limited availability.

Farnham Town Council's directory entry says the museum was founded in 1961, is in a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse with a walled garden, and shows archaeological items, art by local artists and a large costume collection, with three major exhibitions a year, a children's trail and audio guides. It also lists a history garden "spanning from Roman gardening to a working World War II allotment" and a Garden Gallery available for hire.

Farnham Castle Keep

English Heritage's page says the motte and shell keep stand on a hill overlooking the town and were founded in 1138 by Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester and brother of King Stephen. It says the castle was rebuilt in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, and that Farnham was a favourite residence of the Winchester bishops. When we read it, the page said the keep is currently closed to the public, with tours of the Bishop's Palace offered by the Farnham Castle Trust, and that other parts of the wider site are privately owned. The town council's directory entry calls the keep a scheduled Ancient Monument and gives the address as Castle Hill, Farnham GU9 0AG. The page lists opening times and a closure notice together, so check English Heritage before you travel.

Rural Life Living Museum, Tilford

The council's directory entry describes a museum in over ten acres of garden and woodland, housed in purpose-built and reconstructed buildings including a chapel, cricket pavilion and school room, at Reeds Road, Tilford GU10 2DL. The museum's own site says it has paid entry, that opening times differ in summer and winter, and an announcement that it will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Because the sources differ in detail, check the museum's site for hours.

A short history

The town BID's history page says there is evidence of settlement from the Stone Age, that the Romans made pottery here, and that the town grew under the Bishops of Winchester, with the castle built in 1138. It gives the name's origin as the Old English for a fern-covered meadow and calls Farnham Pottery one of the finest surviving Victorian country potteries in England. The town council's history page says Farnham Urban District Council ran the area from 1895 until 1974, when Waverley was created, and that Farnham Parish Council was formed in 1984 and chose to be called Farnham Town Council.

Craft Town

The council's craft town page says Farnham has many makers and describes it as England's first World Craft City.

Plan a visit

For shops, markets and parking see our town centre guide, and for current events our markets and events guide.