Frensham Common facts for kids
Frensham Common is a big area of open land in Surrey, England. It covers about 922 acres (3.7 square kilometers). This special place is owned by the National Trust, a charity that protects important natural and historic sites. Frensham Common is known for its unique heathland habitat and two large lakes.
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What is Frensham Common?
Frensham Common is a type of land called a heathland. Heathlands are open areas with sandy soil and lots of heather and grass. This makes them home to many special plants and animals. The common is managed by Waverley Borough Council. It is mostly located in the village of Frensham, Surrey.
Special Plants and Animals
Frensham Common is a very important place for wildlife. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it is protected because of its rare plants and animals.
Some of the amazing creatures you might find here include:
- The sand lizard, a rare lizard that loves sandy areas.
- The smooth snake, a shy snake that is not venomous.
- The woodlark, a bird known for its beautiful song.
- The Dartford warbler, a small bird that lives in heathland.
- The nightjar, a bird that hunts insects at night.
The Lakes of Frensham
Frensham Common is home to two large lakes: Frensham Great Pond and Frensham Little Pond. These lakes were built a very long time ago, during the Middle Ages. They were created to provide fish for the local bishop, Henry of Blois. He was also known as Henry of Winchester and owned Farnham Castle nearby.
Frensham Great Pond was the biggest lake in Surrey for a long time. It remained the largest until new reservoirs and lakes were built in the early 1900s.
Visiting Frensham Common
Frensham Common is a popular place for visitors. There are car parks and picnic areas near the north side of Frensham Great Pond. You can enjoy the outdoors and have a picnic with your family and friends.
A hotel is located next to the Great Pond, near the area where people go sailing. One of the small houses on the common can even be rented for a stay.
Ancient History and Barrows
In the middle-east part of the common, you can find four ancient burial mounds called bowl barrows. These mounds were built by people in prehistoric times. Local villagers used to call them the King's Ridge Barrows. They are lined up in a straight row.
Notable Events and Filming Locations
Frensham Common has been a part of many interesting events, including being a filming location for movies and TV shows.
During World War II
During the Second World War, Frensham Common was used for training. tanks from nearby areas practiced here. Canadian soldiers also rode their horses across the common. To prevent German bombers from using the ponds as a guide, Frensham Great and Little Ponds were drained during the war.
Filming on the Common
The beautiful scenery of Frensham Common and its ponds has attracted many filmmakers:
- In 1959, scenes for the film The Hound of the Baskervilles were shot here.
- The 1963 film Carry On Jack also filmed scenes on Frensham Great Pond.
- Nautical scenes for the 1979 film The Riddle of the Sands were recorded on the ponds.
- In 1966, the common was used to represent the Battle of Culloden in the Doctor Who TV series The Highlanders.
- The lakes were even used as a film location for the 1999 movie The Mummy, pretending to be the river Nile.
Recent Events
In 2010, a fire affected about 86 acres (35 hectares) of the common.
Images for kids
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Hillsides of the common overlooking lower parts, including Frensham Little Pond
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Great Pond with beach area
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Dinghies covered used for sailing on Frensham Great Pond (November 2009).
