I was so excited to visit Farnham Castle that I left the AirBnb earlier than I left my previous venues. Walking back along the roads towards Farnham in the daylight was soooo much easier than the night before…..LOL
imagine walking along here in the dark!! it wasn’t fun
The castle was just a short 15 minute walk and I was soon immersed in ancient history.
I LOVE visiting castles and towns with an ancient history and my walk along The Pilgrim’s Way gave me so many wonderful opportunities to explore ancient churches, Domesday Book villages and of course castles. A huge boost to Project 101.
Founded in 1138 by Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror and brother of King Stephen, all that remains is the keep…which is way impressive. The Castle was the home of the Bishops of Winchester for over 800 years.
The Bishops’ Castles and Palaces – in today’s terms, the medieval estate earned million of pounds each year. The bishops could afford to build on a lavish scale and many did; churches and colleges, castles and palaces. The bishops travelled widely, visiting their manors and their parishes. They frequently made the two-day journey between London and Winchester. Farnham, lying halfway between, providing a convenient stopping place between London and Winchester, would have been a good place to rest overnight.
The history of the castle is phenomenal and well worth exploring. Don’t miss the historical exhibition at the entrance.
English monarchs, from bad King John to Queen Victoria have visited or stayed at Farnham Castle.
Climbing the stairs gave me a thrill as I imagined what it must have been like in the days when it was first built.
climbing the steps of the castle keep
I spent a good 40 minutes exploring the grounds of the keep and so enjoyed the historical exhibition.
The gated entrance – The Bishop’s Palace, Farnham
The castle keep is managed by English Heritage and free to visit.
The Bishop’s Palace is open for fascinating historic guided tours on Wednesday afternoons (from 2pm to 4pm, with the last tour starting at 3:30pm). You can reserve your space by calling 01252 721194.
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