Museum of Farnham

The Museum still has many of its original features and at the rear is a charming walled garden complimenting the building.  

The Museum has an attractive walled garden, well stocked Local Studies Library for all your local history queries, wide range of children’s activities and temporary exhibitions throughout the year.   

The Museum’s permanent exhibits are displayed in 5 themed rooms.  The remaining public display room is used for temporary exhibits.  

• The introductory room – the first room aims to provide the visitor with a simple historical framework for the history of the town, from prehistoric times to the present day.  

• The Art and Architecture room traces the contribution made to the town’s architectural heritage by the artist William Herbert Allen (1863 -1943). Architect and artist Harold Falkner (1875-1963) and the local dignitary Charles Ernest Borelli (1873 – 1950).  Here one can also see the famous Farnham Greenware which was made at Harris’s Pottery in Wrecclesham until World War II.  This pottery was a product of the Arts and Crafts movement and between the wars was sold by Heal’s, and Liberty’s of London.

• The Town Life room focuses upon the life of Farnham people in war and peace, sickness and health, their local services, schools, shops and leisure activities.  The walls above the magnificent 18th century staircase display a collection of work by local artist, Stephen Elmer (c1715 -1796).  Elmer owned the houses now occupied by the Museum, although he had his studio in a house nearby.  

• On the first floor is a room that traces the development of Farnham along the old road from London to Winchester.  Although Farnham had great strategic importance in the middle ages and the English Civil War, the traffic through Farnham did not increase significantly until the time of the turnpikes.  Coaching inns and wheelwrights’ businesses sprung up everywhere.  After local inventor John Henry Knight built the first petrol driven motor car in 1895,  the town became a centre for motor car building.  Here can be seen many of John Henry Knights’s photographs and inventions, tools  from George Sturt’s wheelwrights’ shop in East Street, and a display recording the tragic career of Farnham motor racing hero, Mike Hawthorn.  

• The Countryside room features the life of Farnham’s country people as seen through the eyes of two famous writers, William Cobbett (1763 – 1835) and George Sturt (1863-1927).  Displays include a collection of Cobbett memorabilia, and relics of the hops and brewing industry that once brought the town such prosperity.  

The Museum has a free audio tour .

For more information visit the Museum of Farnham website or send the Museum an email. 

Address:Museum of Farnham, Willmer House, 38 West Street, Farnham, GU9 7DX