Historic

Exploring the Hidden Heritage of Our Town

Farnham is a community with a rich and unique past, much of which we know about from the work of archaeologists and historians over the years. Although its designation as a craft centre is recent, its history of industrial and artistic traditions – whether the Roman pottery industry, medieval tile-making or Georgian and later Victorian hop production which dominated the area – has much earlier origins and is just one of many aspects which sets Farnham apart. A few of the artefacts or sites which lie beneath our feet:

Bronze Age Burial mounds known as round barrows Origins of Waverley The earliest historic reference to Farnham dates to Farnham The effects of global war in the 20th barrows are assumed to have been common in St AndrewsAbbey a charter of AD 685-688 when Caedwalla of at war century saw major changes on the the area in the Early Bronze Age (2200- Wessex gave 60 hides of land to build a Home Front, including threats from 1600 BC), particularly in the monasterium – minster or ‘mother’ church – in air raids and an increased need for surrounding heathland. the area. Although this first church would have food and munitions production, the been of timber, foundations of another likely latter role which many Barrow on Saxon church were found during women Common, where excavations of St Andrew’s floor. stepped excavation revealed its in to fill. construction from turf Route north from Longbridge (Photos by David Graham) turning sharply west towards St Andrews (Map by David Graham) Home Guard spigot mortar First ‘two minute silence’, Floor and chalk footings in north aisle of earlier – possibly 10th or and associated ‘Molotov cocktail’ Castle Street, May 1916 Alternating bands 11th century – church at St Andrews beneath the Norman 12th excavated in Farnham park (© Museum of of sand and organic century foundations (© County Archaeological Unit) (Photos David Farnham) material from Graham) Warren Hill barrow, Common (Photo David Graham) Agriculture 14th century tax returns indicate how and game much Farnham’s wealth relied on agriculture – particularly from the In addition to pottery kilns, a large Dockenfield wheat and wool trade – with the local tile kiln of 3rd-4th century date was Second World War Roman tile parkland also providing hunting uncovered on the edge of Alice Holt, factory worker at kiln ground (at least for the elite). Tudor rose hat pin, Crosby Doors which largely produced tegulae – possibly lost while by Victor Ambrus overlapping roof tiles – probably hunting in the park (Photo David Graham) intended for a wide-ranging market. Learn more about the fascinating history of Tile from Dockenfield kiln our town and the hidden heritage below our (Photo David Graham) feet by exploring the Museum of Farnham, Excavation of tile kiln at and other local sites. Visit Dockenfield, which first came to light from the Medieval ridge-and-furrow www.farnham.gov.uk for more information, extensive number of Medieval ploughman field system east of the ‘wasters’ in the field and by Victor Ambrus Avenue in Farnham Park including links to the town’s informative was dated to the late 3rd- (Photo David Graham) guides and leaflet series. early 4th centuries from associated pottery (Photos David Graham)

Farnham & District Surrey Funding provided by Archaeological Museum Society Society