The town of Farnham in Surrey lies south-west of London, on the River Wey. The original settlement dates from the Saxon period, although little survives of it today. Following the Norman invasion the Bishop of Winchester built an earthen motte-and-bailey fort overlooking the Saxon settlement. It was redeveloped as a stone castle in the twelfth century, a substantial part of which still stands. The same period saw the construction of St Andrew’s Church. The town was T-shaped and enclosed by a town ditch, which partially survives. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the town prospered and an extensive range of Georgian streetscapes and buildings were laid within the boundaries, including Castle Street, West Street, the Borough, and Downing Street, with most of the Georgian fabric surviving. Each of these streets has outstanding Georgian housing and public buildings, including the museum in Downing Street and town house developments in West Street and Castle Street. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the town experienced considerable expansion and it continues to thrive today, with new buildings integrated into the townscape and many of its old industrial buildings turned to cultural, commercial or community uses.
Farnham in 50 Buildings explores the history of this town in Surrey through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. This book will appeal to all those who live in Farnham or who have an interest in the area.