Farnham Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Farnham Castle |
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Aerial view
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Farnham Castle (comprising castle buildings to the south only), Castle Hill | |
| Designated | 26 April 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1044677 |
Farnham Castle is an old castle in Farnham, Surrey, England. It was built way back in the 1100s! For over 800 years, it was the home of the Bishops of Winchester, who were important church leaders.
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History of Farnham Castle
Farnham Castle was built in 1138 by a man named Henri de Blois. He was the Bishop of Winchester and also the grandson of William the Conqueror. Imagine having a famous grandparent like that!
The first castle was actually torn down in 1155 by King Henry II. This happened after a time of fighting called 'the Anarchy'. But don't worry, the castle was rebuilt soon after, in the late 1100s and early 1200s.
In the 1400s, a very important person lived here: Cardinal Henry Beaufort. He was involved in the trial of Joan of Arc in 1431. That's why there's a church in Farnham, St Joan of Arc's Church, named after her.
The castle's design changed a lot over the years. This makes it a really important historical building in southern England. It started as a strong stone motte and bailey fortress. This means it had a big hill (the motte) with a tower on top, and a walled area below (the bailey). The big hill was built around the foundations of an even older Norman tower. Later, a shell keep was built around the motte. This was a circular stone wall on top of the hill.
The castle also has a triangular inner bailey with many buildings. There's a brick entrance tower from the 1400s. The outer bailey has a strong curtain wall with square towers and a gatehouse from the 1200s. There's also a large ditch around it for protection.
Sadly, the castle stables burned down in 1609 when King James, Anne of Denmark, and Prince Henry were visiting. The castle was damaged again in 1648 during the English Civil War. After that, more buildings were added, especially by Bishop George Morley in the 1600s.
The castle sits in about 5 acres (20,000 square meters) of gardens. It looks out over the town of Farnham. Long ago, in 1594, people dug white clay from Farnham Park. They used it to make drinking cups for lawyers in London!
Camouflage Training Centre
During the Second World War, Farnham Castle became a secret training place! It was home to the Camouflage Development and Training Centre (CDTC). This is where the Royal Engineers taught people how to use military camouflage.
Artists like Roland Penrose and Julian Trevelyan learned how to hide things from the enemy here. Even a famous magician named Jasper Maskelyne was trained in the art of camouflage!
Since 1962, the castle has been used as a place for training and conferences. People from different cultures come here to learn and meet.
Visiting Farnham Castle
The castle's keep (the main tower) and the Bishop's Palace have been fully restored. This was done with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Now, Farnham Castle manages visitors to these areas.
The keep re-opened in July 2010. You can explore its history and see an exhibition called "900 Years of Living History of Farnham Castle."
English Heritage looks after the keep, but Farnham Castle helps visitors explore it. The best part? Entry to the keep is free! You can also take guided tours of the Bishop's Palace on certain days, but there's a small charge for those.
See also
Images for kids
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Inside the keep
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Site of the keep's drawbridge
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The entrance to the keep
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The shell keep of Farnham Castle
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The castle seen from the north in June 2015
