What to see | Farnham Castle Trust

The Exhibition Room provides user-friendly displays which give information on the Bishops who lived here and about the key events the castle has witnessed.

This includes a short video presentation of the castle’s history and the stages in its construction.

It's a great source of information for history projects too.

Within the Bailey and castle grounds is a Palace built for and, over many years, modified by numerous Bishops of Winchester. It was a Palace regularly visited by monarchs from King John to Queen Victoria.

It comprises a number of interlinked buildings dating from the late 11th or early 12th century up to the 17th. The central Great Hall is linked by the Stone Hall to a medieval kitchen. The earliest building is a Norman chapel.

Take a Wednesday guided tour to hear more of the Castle's story.

Built on top of the mound of a Motte and Bailey design castle, the construction of the original stone Keep has been dated to 1138, but it may be earlier. In 1154 Henry II demolished it to impose his control. Less than 50 years later the stone, Shell Keep you can see today was built as a stone wall around the entire mound area. The Keep was protected by the addition of round towers that gave improved lines of fire if under attack.

And the views over Farnham and the Surrey Hills are magnificent.

Books to read

Books by local historian Roy Waight:

Farnham Castle: Stories behind the Stones
(Published by Farnham Castle Trust).

A Convenient Place
A History of Farnham Castle and its Bishops
(Published by Farnham and District Museum Society)

Book by Rt Rev’d Dr Christopher Herbert (Former Bishop of St Albans)

Building Jerusalem – The Life and Times of Charles Sumner, Bishop of Winchester 1790-1874
(Published by Farnham and District Museum Society)

Books to read

Farnham Castle Charity Trust Mission/Constitution