Farnham Castle (Comprising Castle Buildings To The South Only)

Farnham Castle (comprising Castle Buildings to the south only)

The Castle has been the property of the Bishops of Winchester since Saxon times continuously to 1927, after which it remained for some time the residence of the Bishop of Guildford and partly for diocesan use. It is now used by the Overseas Service College.

The plan consists of a circular mound to the north with an irregular group of buildings built in a triangle round a court to the south of the mound. The original stockade defence of the mound, rebuilt in stone in the 18th century, was probably built by Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to 1171. This work probably included the shell keep of 23 sides, more or less a circle, formerly with 5 towers which remains in part today with some later 15th-century brickwork over the entrance. In addition, some of the outer walls and entrance gate, the latter altered later, also of the 12th century remain much as shown in a print of 1737 (Buck). The group of buildings to the south of the keep are of various dates and have been rebuilt or altered over a period of roughly 800 years.

The south front consists of Fox's Tower, a square brick structure of 3 storeys, beautifully built with a diaper pattern of vitreous brick all over. The design is unsymmetrical with a flat arched entry in the right hand corner and 2 windows to upper floors (now 18th-century sashes) deep machicolated and battlemented parapet between projecting and splayed angles of greater height. A group of 3 chimneys springs from the left hand angle. Two square painted sundials are placed on different faces of the angles, one on each side. This tower dates from 1470 to 1475, formerly thought to date from the time of Bishop Fox in the early 16th century, hence the name given to the tower.

To the left of the tower is a low range with a kitchen on the south side and a chapel, recently restored to its use, on the north side, probably of the 12th century. To the right hand of the tower is a long block of 2 storeys, battlemented, of coursed rough stone with old tile roof. The first floor has 9 sash windows of the 18th century. The main floor has 3 similar windows and 4 large mullioned and transomed stone windows of 15th-century date. The lower ground floor, used for storage, has 3 circular lights.

The Great Hall and principal stair are contained in this block. The Hall was reconstructed under Bishop Morley, as were the stair and the Bishop's Chapel on the east side of the court. The interior design may possibly be connected with John Webb, and is of the late 17th century. The Chapel fittings and panelling are richly carved. The various features and details of design have been illustrated in numerous books. Good photographs and a comprehensive description of the building were published in Country Life of 23rd and 30th December 1939.

The Castle dominates the town from its site on the hilltop to the north, with the wide approach of Castle Street. The architecture is not dramatic, and has a strong affinity with the gentle restraint of the small brick 18th-century buildings below it. The group of the Castle, together with the whole of the Park, The Grange and Castle Street, is very exceptional and should be considered as a unit for purposes of preservation.