Frensham Common
Frensham Common is a large heathland of 922 acres in the very south-west of Surrey, close to Frensham from which they are named.
The common includes two lakes, Frensham Great Pond and Frensham Great Pond, the latter of which is owned by the National Trust.
Terrain, plants and animals
Frensham Common, in the Parish of Frensham, Surrey spreads out over 922 acres, mainly on alluvial soil, narrowly buffered to the north-west, connected by a path. The local road network surrounds the site; the nearest trunk roads are five miles away. The terrain is elevated and undulating — it has few streams due to the permeability of the soil[1] and high points in ridges to the south-east.
The common is designated a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest'.
The site supports sand lizards, smooth snake, woodlark, Dartford warbler and nightjar.
Lakes
The expanse includes what was the largest lake in Surrey until the early 20th century, Frensham Great Pond (SU845400) and Frensham Little Pond (SU860415) which are not natural lakes but dug during the Middle Ages to provide fish for the estate of the Bishop of Winchester, developed by Bishop Henry of Blois also known as Henry of Winchester: it is he who established Farnham Castle to the north, and who owned this and nearby manors.
Tourism
A hotel adjoins the south side of the Great Lake by the yachting area. One of the cottages on the common is available to rent. The north of the lake has car parks and picnic areas.
North-west of the common border is the small village of Frensham, which adjoins two hamlets further across the River Wey. Some 5% of the Common trespasses in spurs into the parishes of Churt to the south and Tilford to the north.
Four prehistoric bowl barrows are in a straight line in the centre-east of the common.[2] Villagers termed these the King's Ridge Barrows.[3]
History
During the Second World War, tanks based in the Headley area used Frensham Common for training,[4] and Canadian soldiers used to gallop across the Common.[5] At this time, Frensham Great and Little Ponds were drained as otherwise they would have provided markers for German bombers.[6]
In the 1960s small rowing boats were available for hire on the Little Pond from a boathouse.
In 2010, 86 acres, constituting 9% of the common, were destroyed by fire.[7]
On film and television
- The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959 film) had scenes shot on the common.[8]
- The Doctor Who serial The Highlanders (1966) had scenes filmed on the common, which stood in for the Battle of Culloden.
- The Mummy (1999 film) used the lakes as a filming location: posing as the River Nile.[9]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Frensham Common, Great and Little Ponds) |
References
- ↑ Cranfield University National Soil Resources Institute
- ↑ National Heritage List 1008880: Three bowl barrows on Frensham Common
National Heritage List 1013340: Bowl barrow on Frensham Common - ↑ King's Ridge Barrows: 'Megalithic'
- ↑ BBC WW2 People's War Stories
- ↑ BBC WW2 People's War Stories
- ↑ BBC WW2 People's Stories
- ↑ BBC - Surrey heath fire brought under control, 12 July 2010
- ↑ Barnes, Alan (2002). Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. ISBN 1-903111-04-8.
- ↑ The Mummy at the Internet Movie Database