Farnborough, Hampshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Farnborough
Town
Clock Tower, Farnborough
Farnborough
Population	57,486
OS grid reference	SU871554
District	Rushmoor
Shire county	Hampshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FARNBOROUGH
Postcode district	GU14
Dialling code	01252, 01276
Police	Hampshire
Fire	Hampshire
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Aldershot
List of places UK England Hampshire 51°17′N 0°45′W / 51.29°N 0.75°W / 51.29; -0.75

Farnborough is a town located in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It has a population of around 57,486 as of the 2011 census and is an important centre of aviation, engineering and technology. The town is probably best known for its association with aviation, including the Farnborough International Airshow, Farnborough Airport, Royal Aircraft Establishment, and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

History

Pre-history and early settlements

The earliest evidence of human settlement around Farnborough dates back thousands of years. Archaeologists have uncovered flint tools and other artefacts from the Mesolithic period, indicating the presence of hunter-gatherer communities in the area over 8,000 years ago. During the Neolithic period, the region saw increasing agricultural activity and the development of more permanent settlements. Excavations have revealed the remains of several prehistoric enclosures and barrows within the boundaries of modern-day Farnborough, suggesting it was home to thriving communities in the 4th-2nd millennia BC. The area continued to be inhabited throughout the Bronze Age and Iron Age, with hillforts, field systems and other archaeological evidence indicating the presence of larger, more organized settlements. One notable site is Caesar's Camp, an iron age hillfort, located just north of the modern town.

The Roman conquest of Britain in the 1st century AD brought major changes to the local landscape. The Devil's Highway, a key Roman road, passed through what is now Farnborough, linking the provincial capital of Calleva Atrebatum (modern-day Silchester) with the coastal port of Portus Adurni (Portchester). Numerous Roman artefacts and building remains have been discovered within the town, suggesting it was home to a small rural settlement during the Roman period.

Saxon Farnborough

Following the end of Roman rule in the early 5th century, the area was gradually absorbed into the emerging Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The modern name "Farnborough" derives from the Old English "Ferneberga", meaning "fern-covered hill".

Farnborough is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as a small hamlet within the larger manor of Crondall. At this time, the settlement was held by the Norman lord, Odin de Windesores, who owned 3 hides of land there. The Domesday entry suggests Farnborough was a relatively insignificant rural village in the late 11th century, with a population estimated at around 50-100 people.

Over the following centuries, Farnborough remained a modest agricultural settlement, its economy based around subsistence farming, woodland management and small-scale industry. The manor passed through the hands of various noble families, including the de Farnborough and de Sherborne dynasties.

The rise of Farnborough

Farnborough began to grow and develop more rapidly from the late 18th century onwards, driven by improved transportation links and its proximity to the expanding metropolis of London. The construction of the London and South Western Railway in the 1830s, with a station at Farnborough, greatly enhanced the town's accessibility and connectivity. This, combined with its healthy climate and picturesque rural setting, attracted an influx of wealthy London commuters and helped transform Farnborough into more of a suburban residential area.

From 1830 to 1850, Farnborough's population grew from around 400 to over 800, as new housing developments and services were established to cater for the expanding middle-class community. The town's focal point shifted from the historic village core to the area around the railway station, with the construction of new churches, schools, shops and other amenities.

The aviation era arrives

The most transformative event in Farnborough's history came in 1905, when the Royal Engineers moved from Aldershot with their Balloon School and factory, to use the open space of Laffan's Plain for development and trials. They were joined by Samuel Cody in 1906, who came to demonstrate his man lifting kites, and he persuaded them to let him build an aeroplane. Cody became the first person to fly in a powered aircraft in Great Britain in 1908. A full scale replica of this Army Aeroplane No 1 now exists in a pavilion alongside the original Balloon School Headquaters building, now home to the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) Aviation Museum. With the growth of aircraft related activity, the Army Balloon Factory became the Royal Aircraft Factory under civilian control. In 1912, with the formation of the Royal Flying Corps, the headquarters of the Balloon School became the headquarters of the Royal Flying Corps and is now known as "Trenchard House". The name of the Royal Aircraft Factory had to be changed in 1918, when the Royal Air Force was formed, becoming the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). This lead to Farnborough becoming a globally significant centre for aeronautical research and development.

The establishment of the RAE, and the influx of skilled engineers and technicians it brought, had a profound impact on Farnborough's subsequent growth and character. Major aerospace companies such as Supermarine, Handley Page and De Havilland were attracted to set up factories and facilities in the area, further cementing the town's reputation as a hub of British aviation.

In the decades following the Second World War, Farnborough continued to expand rapidly, with the development of major new business parks, light industrial estates and residential areas to accommodate the growing population. The town also became renowned globally as the host of the biennial Farnborough International Airshow, one of the world's largest and most important aerospace trade events.

Geography and climate

Topography and geology

Farnborough is located in the northeastern corner of the county of Hampshire, near the border with Surrey. The town occupies a valley setting, with the main urban area situated between the River Blackwater to the east and higher ground to the west. The topography gradually rises from the valley floor, reaching a maximum elevation of around 90 metres (300 feet) above sea level on the fringes of the town.

Geologically, Farnborough lies on a foundation of London Clay, overlain by deposits of sandy and gravelly Bagshot Beds from the Eocene epoch. The town's soils are generally free-draining and infertile, which historically limited the agricultural potential of the land.

Neighbouring areas

Farnborough forms part of the wider Blackwater Valley conurbation, which includes the neighbouring towns of Aldershot, Camberley, Yateley, Sandhurst and Frimley. The town itself is bordered to the east by the county of Surrey, with the River Blackwater forming much of the county boundary.

Climate

Farnborough experiences a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb), typical of southeastern England. Summers are generally warm and dry, with average daily high temperatures around 22 °C (72 °F). Winters are mild, with average highs of 8 °C (46 °F) and lows around 2 °C (36 °F).

Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, with an annual average of around 760 millimetres (30 in). The driest months are usually spring (April–May) and the wettest are October and November. Snowfall occurs occasionally in winter, but heavy and prolonged snowstorms are uncommon due to the town's relatively low elevation and southern latitude.

The Met Office have a weather station at Farnborough Airport which has been operating since 1914.

Twinned towns - sister cities

Rushmoor is twinned with:

• Dayton, Ohio, United States (since 2019)
• Gorkha Municipality, Nepal (since 2020)
• Meudon, France (since 1974)
• Oberursel, Germany (since 1989)
• Rzeszów, Poland (since 2019)
• Sulechów, Poland (since 2001)

Governance

The former Farnborough Town Hall

See also

In Spanish: Farnborough para niños