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Farnborough, Hampshire facts for kids

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Farnborough
Town
Clock Tower, Farnborough, Hampshire - geograph.org.uk - 1232783.jpg
Clock Tower, Farnborough
Farnborough is located in Hampshire
Farnborough
Farnborough
Population 65,034 — 2011 census, including exurb Ash Vale
OS grid reference SU871554
District
  • Rushmoor
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town FARNBOROUGH
Postcode district GU14
Dialling code 01252, 01276
Police Hampshire
Fire Hampshire
Ambulance South East Coast
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament
  • Aldershot
List of places
UK
England
Hampshire
51°17′N 0°45′W / 51.29°N 0.75°W / 51.29; -0.75

Farnborough is a town in northeast Hampshire, England, part of the borough of Rushmoor and the Farnborough/Aldershot Built-up Area. Farnborough was founded in Saxon times and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is formed from Ferneberga which means "fern hill". According to the UK-wide 2011 Census, the population of Farnborough is 57,486.

The town is probably best known for its association with aviation, with the Farnborough Airshow, Farnborough Aerodrome, Royal Aircraft Establishment, and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Geography and climate

Farnborough is situated in northeast Hampshire near the boundary with Surrey. The River Blackwater forms part of the boundary. It is located 34 miles (55 km) southwest of London and 16 miles (26 km) east of Basingstoke, directly to the south of junction 4 of the M3 motorway. The town lies at the centre of the Blackwater Valley conurbation, which includes Aldershot, Camberley, Yateley, Sandhurst, Frimley and Farnham.

Farnborough has incorporated several sizeable villages as it has expanded, including North Camp to the south, Cove and Southwood, which are now considered suburbs. It is contiguous with the garrison town of Aldershot to the south and with Frimley to the north. The council of the local government district of Rushmoor is based in the town. The district has borough status and also covers nearby Aldershot.

Farnborough's suburban areas include Southwood, Rafborough, Cove, West Heath, Farnborough Park, Farnborough Street, North Camp, South Farnborough, Fox Lane, Hawley Lane, St. John's, and St. Christopher's.

Within Farnborough the only naturally occurring significant flowing water is Cove Brook.

Farnborough's lowest temperature (−14.2c) was recorded on 20 December 2010.

Farnborough's highest temperature (36.1c) was recorded on 10 August 2003.

Climate data for Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 8
(46)
8
(46)
11
(51)
13
(56)
17
(63)
20
(68)
22
(72)
22
(72)
19
(66)
15
(59)
11
(51)
8
(47)
15
(58)
Average low °C (°F) 2
(36)
2
(36)
3
(37)
4
(39)
7
(45)
10
(50)
12
(54)
12
(54)
10
(50)
7
(45)
4
(39)
3
(37)
6
(44)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 62
(2.46)
41
(1.60)
48
(1.88)
47
(1.87)
51
(2.01)
52
(2.03)
40
(1.56)
49
(1.94)
61
(2.41)
71
(2.80)
60
(2.37)
65
(2.54)
647
(25.47)
Source: Weather.com

History

Name changes: Ferneberga (11th century); Farnburghe, Farenberg (13th century); Farnborowe, Fremborough, Farneborough (16th century).

Tower Hill

Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence that many years ago a large accumulation of Sarsen stones existed upon what later came to be known as Tower Hill.

Farnborough Abbey

The town is the home of St. Michael's Abbey. The Imperial Crypt there is the resting place of Napoleon III (1808–1873), Emperor of the French, and his wife, Eugénie de Montijo, (1826–1920) and their son, Napoléon, Prince Imperial. The Abbey was the home of the Catholic National Library from 2007 until it was relocated to Durham University Library in 2015.

River Blackwater

The River Blackwater on the Hampshire/Surrey border was the location of the first international prize fight between Tom Sayers and John C. Heenan, which took place near the location of the Ship Inn pub.

Samuel Cody

Closely associated with Farnborough Airfield, situated between Farnborough and Fleet, is Samuel Franklin Cody. Cody, or Colonel Sam Cody as he was known, was one of the early pioneers of aviation. He died when he crashed his plane on Ball Hill, a site which is now within Qinetiq's Technology Park. A statue was unveiled on the 100th anniversary of his death, 7 August 2013. The statue is sited outside the FAST museum, home of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, surrounded by commemorative paving paid for by supporters.

RAE

Farnborough Wind Tunnel Q121 Main Fan
Main Fan in Building Q121

Farnborough Airfield is the site of the historic Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). Part of the old RAE, Farnborough's historic wind tunnels are now listed buildings, two in particular preserved. The first built in 1917 and the other, much larger, in 1935. The latter was used extensively for research into Concorde aerodynamics, Formula 1 cars until its closure in the early 1990s. The tunnels were open to the public during June and July 2014 until the end of the Farnborough International Airshow.

Sir Frank Whittle conducted much of his research into jet aircraft at the RAE. A replica Gloster E.28/39 (based on his prototype) is sited on a roundabout along Ively Road in tribute to its inventor.

Whitle farnborough
A monument to the Gloster E.28/39

The Tumble Down Dick

The Tumbledown Dick In Farnborough
The Tumble Down Dick, before its conversion

An inn, The Tumble Down Dick Pub has been present on the A325 Farnborough Road since the 17th century. It was reputedly connected to Richard Cromwell, and was the central focus of the town before its 19th-century refocus toward North Camp and the town centre proper's 20th-century development. The pub closed in 2008 and was designated an "Asset of Community Value" in 2013 after local protest over a request for planning permission by McDonald's. The ACV status was later rescinded after an appeal by the site's owners. Permission was granted for the site's conversion to a McDonald's restaurant on 9 October 2013, and the building reopened with a new roof in October 2014 after being allowed to lie derelict for six years. During the renovation, an early advertisement for the Reading Simmonds Brewery was discovered and is now on full display on the side of the building.

Transport

Farnborough is near junctions 4 and 4a of the M3 motorway. The A325 enters the town from Frimley to the north, and continues into Aldershot to the south. The A331 runs north to south along the east side of the town.

Farnborough is served by three railway stations, the busiest of which is Farnborough (Main) railway station on the South West Main Line from London Waterloo to Basingstoke and beyond. Farnborough North railway station and North Camp railway station are both on the North Downs Line between Reading and Gatwick. North Camp station is a short distance over the county border, in the Surrey village of Ash Vale.

Since 2003 Farnborough Airport has been a business airport operated by TAG Aviation. The Farnborough International Airshow takes place at the airport on even numbered years.

Town centre

The centre of Farnborough includes the Kingsmead, Queensmead and Princesmead shopping precincts. In February 2007, Rushmoor Borough Council unveiled plans to renovate the centre of Farnborough over the next two decades. The town centre study outlines major changes to the council offices, Farnborough's main railway station, the local road network and the continuation of the improvements to Farnborough's town centre, including the development of a Discovery Centre (a Hampshire County Council initiative aimed at improving libraries in the county).

Work is underway to construct a new retail area with an entertainment complex. Several new blocks of flats have also been built adjacent to the town centre. Following a public consultation during the winter 2011–12, a 'town centre prospectus' outlining extensive redevelopment plans for the whole centre, including the building of a new cinema, a significant expansion of the available retail space, a new look for Queensmead shopping street and a community-led theatre or cultural venue was published.

On the edge of the town centre, is Farnborough Leisure Centre, which has a swimming pool, gym, indoor bowling, squash courts and ten pin bowling.

Twinned towns

Rushmoor is twinned with:

  • France Meudon, France
  • Germany Oberursel, Germany
  • Poland Sulechów, Poland

Neighbouring areas

Sport

Football

The football club, Farnborough FC (known as Farnborough Town FC until 2007), play in the Southern League Premier Division South. As Farnborough Town FC, the team came to national prominence in 2003 when they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, where they played the previous season's Cup winners Arsenal at Highbury. They were drawn to play the tie at home but the venue was switched on police advice. The match was won 5–1 by Arsenal. As Farnborough FC they have won the British Gas Business South and West and Premier division and got to the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup against Basingstoke but lost. The town's other clubs are Cove, Farnborough North End and South Farnborough. These teams play in the Southern Counties League and Aldershot & District League respectively.

Rugby

Established in 1915 (originally as the Royal Aircraft Factory Rugby Union Football Club) Farnborough Rugby Football Club is primarily a rugby union club based at Tile Barn Close in Farnborough. They play in Hampshire Division 1. They also have a Minis and Juniors section which caters for boys from 5 to 19 years of age and girls from 5 to 12 years of age. In the summer 2007 season they also fielded a successful rugby league team, winning the Co-op Southern Conference competition in their first year of entering.

Cricket

One cricket club in Farnborough is Cove Cricket Club. It fields five senior sides on a Saturday including an Academy XI playing in the Morrant Thames Valley Cricket League and one side on a Sunday playing a combination of league and friendly games. In 2007 Cove established a mini's section, providing cricket related fun on a Monday evening for players aged 4 to 7. Cove run boys teams at U9, U11, U13, and U15 and girls teams at U13 and U15.

Hockey

Camberley and Farnborough Hockey Club play men and women's field hockey in nearby Camberley (Kings International College). The London 2012 Bronze medal and Rio 2016 Gold medal winning Alex Danson went to school and played hockey at Farnborough Hill. Danson is a former captain of the Great Britain and England Women's Hockey Teams.

Motorsports

AutosoloCourses-AM-1&2
Layout from the Farnborough District Motor Club Summer Solo Event

The Farnborough District Motor Club holds rallies, autocross, sprint, hillclimbing events throughout the year.

Basketball

Farnborough Phantoms Basketball Club was formed in 1996 and has men's, ladies' and junior teams which play in local leagues.

Education

Primary schools

There are currently seventeen primary schools in Farnborough.

  • Cherrywood Community Primary School
  • Cove Infant School
  • Cove Junior School
  • Fernhill Primary School
  • Grange Community Junior School
  • Guillemont Junior School
  • Manor Infant School
  • Manor Junior School
  • North Farnborough Infant School
  • Parsonage Farm Infant School
  • Pinewood Infant School
  • South Farnborough Infant School
  • South Farnborough Junior School
  • Southwood Infant School
  • St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
  • St Mark's Church of England Aided Primary School
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
  • St Peter's Church of England Aided Junior School
  • Tower Hill Primary School

Secondary schools

There are three state secondary schools in Farnborough. All three are non-selective, mixed comprehensives, for pupils aged 11–16.

  • Cove School
  • Fernhill School
  • The Wavell School

Independent schools

There are two independent Roman Catholic secondary schools in Farnborough. Both are single-sex, selective and include sixth forms. (2012 GCSE score in parentheses)

  • Farnborough Hill (98%)
  • Salesian College (99%)

Further education

The town is home to the Sixth Form College, Farnborough, which draws in around 4,000 students aged 16–19 from the surrounding area.

Farnborough College of Technology is a further-education institution specialising in BTEC, A-level and vocational courses for students aged 16+.

Higher education

Whilst there are no universities in Farnborough, University Centre Farnborough (UCF) at Farnborough College of Technology, provides degree-level courses, accredited by the University of Surrey.

Notable residents

  • French emperor Napoleon III, his wife Empress Eugenie and son Louis Napoleon are entombed in the crypt at Saint Michael's Abbey, although it was only Eugenie who was a resident of Farnborough while alive. Their former house was turned into an independent Boarding school and convent set in 64 acres of ground, Farnborough Hill Convent
  • David Mellor and Anne Robinson went to school in Farnborough.
  • Former Middlesex County Cricket Club captain Shaun Udal, who also played for Hampshire and at international level for England, was born and raised here.
  • Arthur English lived in Farnborough for a period, as well as Christopher Lillicrap, children's TV presenter and writer.
  • Fernand Cabrol, monk and scholar became Prior and, later, Abbot at the Benedictine abbey.
  • In 1922 T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was posted to RAF Farnborough for a photography course, it is thought he lived in Farnborough for 6 weeks.
  • Actress Janet Wright was born in Farnborough before moving to Canada as a child.
  • Robbe De Hert, Belgian film director, was born in Farnborough.
  • Composer Percy Fletcher lived in Farnborough during the 1920s, when he was working in London as a theatre composer and conductor.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Farnborough para niños

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