Deer Bishops

Over the next few weeks, as the schools break up, Farnham Park will be a magnet for children and adults alike, but in the Middle Ages, summer was one of the the quietest times of the year; these were the ‘fence months’ when the deer fawn had to be left untroubled.

Farnham Park was just one of 23 parks owned by the wealthy Bishops of Winchester. In fact, more deer parks belonged to Winchester than to any other diocese in England, providing venison for great feasts and sport for royalty and nobility. Only the Duchy of Lancaster and the English monarch owned more parkland than the Bishops of Winchester.

Deer needed hay, woodland and access to water. This resulted in the development of specialist land management. Ponds were dug, hay meadows cultivated and trees planted, creating a rich and diverse landscape. The deer park also created jobs including fewterers who looked after the greyhounds, falconers, grooms, and professional huntsmen. The keeper oversaw the park, especially important when the Bishop was absent as this was when poaching was more likely to occur. Bishop William Wykeham spent some time dealing with the poachers ‘from Crondall’ (apparently!) who trespassed onto the Bishop's land, stealing ‘rabbits and other wild beasts out of the Bishop's parks, chases, warrens and woods’. Wykeham's punishment for the poachers was excommunication from the Church, not unusual for the time, it relied upon those being shut out not only from the Church, but also being shunned by their fellow villagers, in order to bring them back into the fold.

Wykeham was also responsible for enlarging Farnham Park during his tenure. Following the Black Death, which had led to a dramatic fall in the population, less land was needed for cultivation, so Wykeham fenced off an even bigger area in which to keep deer.

In 1665 Bishop George Morley built the impressive Ranger's House. He also planted a magnificent avenue of elms, possibly motivated by the need for more timber by the burgeoning Royal Navy at this time. Unfortunately, the avenue suffered its share of bad luck at the hands of the weather, the army and disease. They have since been replaced by the lime and beech trees, so many of us appreciate today.

Bishop Brownlow North, who resided at the Bishop's Palace from the 1780s to the 1820s, was a keen horticulturist, planting a group of wonderful cedars of Lebanon, several of which still survive close to the Rangers House today. The saplings had originally come from Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey!).

This is just a snapshot of some of the characters who have trodden the same Farnham parkland ahead of us - the poorest peasants scratching a living, the poachers, resentful that wildlife should be restricted to men like the Bishops,all rich and powerful, the knight huntsmen, the men of the hounds, and all those members of royalty who considered Farnham Park and the Bishop's Palace a perfect place to hunt and feast and escape London.

Today, the view of the Park from the Bishop's Palace, beyond the rose garden and the blue postern gate still delights visitors. We are fortunate to have such an historic and beautiful tract of land in our town. Whilst enjoying some time in Farnham Park this summer, let's reflect on the lasting legacy left by the Bishops of Winchester and the contribution they have made to Farnham.

Tours of the Bishop's Palace take place on Wednesday afternoons. Please see our website for further information

https://www.farnham-castle.com/