Farnham Castle stands on a wooded hillside to the north of the market town. It was built as an episcopal fortress by the Bishops of Winchester.
The first castle was built by Henry of Blois, the younger brother of King Stephen, who was bishop in 1129 - 71.
At this time the Bishop of Winchester's lands reached from Taunton to Southwark and Farnham was located in a convenient position on the main road between Winchester and London.
The original castle was a stone tower built on an artificial mound surrounded by wooden palisades. In the late 12th century the mound was enlarged all round and a retaining wall constructed and continued upwards to form a shell-keep.
Towards the end of the 12th century residential buildings were built to the south of the keep including a Great Hall and Chapel. In the early 13th century the Kitchen and the Bishop's Camera (Great Chamber) were added.
An outer ring of walls was built in the 14th century on the line of the orignal Norman defences.
In 1470 - 75 a brick tower was added on the south of the main range by Bishop William Waynflete. This provided extra living accommodation and an impressive new entrance to the castle.
Throughout Tudor times period Farnham Castle was regularly used as the Bishop's residence. After this time the property was let to King James I for the hunting.
During the Civil War Farnham Castle was captured by Parliamentarian troops and in 1648 it was slighted. Although the upper walls of the shell keep were destroyed, the residential buildings remained mostly undamaged.
Following the Restoration Bishop Morley (1662 - 84) reconstructed the Great Hall and modernised the residential buildings.
Farnham Castle continued to be the residence of the Bishops of Winchester until 1927 when it was transferred to the new see of Guildford.
The building is now owned by the Church Commissioners but since 1955 it has been leased to the Centre for International Briefing as a residential training and conference centre.
The shell-keep at Farnham Castle is in the care of English Heritage.
The timber-framed west range, dating from the 16th century, forms the entrance to Farnham Castle.
To the south and east are massive buildings of Norman origin but greatly altered in the late-17th century by Bishop Morley. Waynflete's Tower has fine Renaissance brickwork. The ruined shell-keep is to the north.
The Great Hall dates from Norman times but the ceiling, galleries, fireplaces and doorcases were remodelled by Bishop Moreley at the Restoration. The walls are hung with portraits of Bishops of Winchester (most of them copies).
From here climb the great oak staircase af the far end of the Great Hall, also dating from the 1670s, to the Drawing Room, now used as a lecture room. This was built in the 12th century as the Bishop's Camera but its present decoration dates from the 18th century.
The Bishop's Chapel next door, with its fine carved pews and panelling, was also created by Bishop Morley. The Norman Chapel has a single barrel-vault roof constructed of rubble-masonry and it the least altered 12th century building at Farnham Castle.
The Norman Kitchen retains its original shape and massive fireplace and is now used as the Centre's refectory.
The large ruined shell-keep encloses a mound in which there are the foundations of the original Norman donjon (central tower) with views over the countryside.
2008: From 21st Mar: Sat, Sun and May Bank Hol; Fri,Sat,Sun from 16 Jun-30 Sept 13:00-17:00 Guided tour on Sun during Aug at 14:30.
Tel: 01252 713393 Farnham Castle Website
