Farnham Common
| Farnham Common | |
| Buckinghamshire | |
|---|---|
 St John the Evangelist, Farnham Common | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU961850 |
| Location: | 51°33’20"N, -0°36’47"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Slough |
| Postcode: | SL2 |
| Dialling code: | 01753 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Buckinghamshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Beaconsfield |
Farnham Common is a village in southern Buckinghamshire, three miles north of Slough and three miles south of Beaconsfield, on the A355 road. It adjoins the ancient woodland of Burnham Beeches, has a population of around 6,000. It is within the civil parish of Farnham Royal.
History
Farnham Royal has long been the main village: here stands the original parish church, St Mary. Here too are shops, cottages and village pump, situated in the centre junction of the cross roads. Farnham Common was known as 'Up End', being the common land of the parish where the livestock was grazed at certain times of the year. As this common area became more populated it became known as Farnham Common.
Farnham Common is on the border of Burnham Beeches, a well-known Beech forest owned by the Corporation of London, having been given to the people of London as a place in the country for their recreation and pleasure.[1] In the 1920s it was very common for coach loads of Londoners to come down for the day at weekends having tea at the tea rooms and enjoying the donkey rides.
A few of the large old houses still remain such as Yew Place, Farnham Park House and the home of Caldicott. Yew Place was formerly known as The Rectory, part of which dates back to the time of King John. The original farmhouse was given to a coachman in the service of the Earl of Warwick. The Chase, now known as Farnham Park House, was owned by Mr Carr Gomme, a very influential member of the community, being one of the main organisers of fund-raisers for the building of St John's Church. The house passed into the hands of Sir Gomer Berry, later Lord Kemsley, who had the organ dismantled from Farnham Park House and gave it to St John's Church. In 1948 Farnham Park house became the Farnham Park Rehabilitation Centre, a renowned sports injury hospital owned by the East Berkshire Health Authority until its closure in 1988. In 1996 Farnham Park House was re-established as a private residence.
Caldicott is large house situated on the edge of Burnham Beeches and was once owned by Mrs Harvey who gave money for the extension of Farnham Common Village Hall. Caldicott is now a boys' preparatory school.
In Burnham Beeches a large beech tree under which it is said that Felix Mendelssohn used to sit and compose works in 'peaceful splendour'.
Facilities
A small high street includes numerous businesses, stores, eateries and shops.
The National Baseball & Softball Complex at Farnham Park is located just south of the village, between Farnham Royal and Slough. It is the home of the Great Britain Baseball and Great Britain Softball Olympic National Teams, and is the largest complex of its kind in the United Kingdom.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Farnham Common) |