Visit to Farnborough Hill

Event details

Date: 22 July

Time: 1.30-3.30pm (arrive from 1.15)

Tickets: £15

A rare opportunity to visit Farnborough Hill, the home of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III and mother of the Prince Imperial.  The tour will include viewing both ground and first floor of the house, followed by a walk around the grounds.

History

The Empress purchased the house from the publisher Thomas Longman in 1880 and lived there until her death in 1920. In 1926 it was sold and became a convent school and today is a private school of some international standing.

Thomas Longmanhad employed H. E. Kendall Jr, who’d made substantial changes between 1860 and 1863, to what was an architecturally plain building.  When the Empress bought the property, she invited Viollet-le-Duc to make further alterations, but he declined, resulting in G. H. A. Destailleur undertaking the work, which included the addition of the Winter Garden, amongst many other changes.

The house sits on a hill overlooking what was a medieval village, known today as Farnborough Street.  During the 17th century, Farnborough Hill was identified as Windmill Hill and was closely connected with the village and its pottery industry, which dates back to the late 1200s, and ceased in the early 1900s.

Getting there

Satnav: GU14 8AT. Access is from the Farnborough Road (A325) using South Gate (which is located close to Highgate Lane and Farnborough Main Station.

Parking: available but it’s about 100 metres walk via slight incline. If required guests can be dropped off at the house.

Trains: Farnborough Main Station (15-20-minute walk) and Farnborough North Station (30-minute walk)

Multiple bookings
As long as there is space on the event, we usually allow you to book for both yourself and a guest. When completing the booking form, you will be asked to select the number of people and put in your own details on the first page, then to put in your second person's details on the next page. The event fee shown on each of these pages is for the individual person - you will be shown the total amount due once you get to the summary page.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Accessibility: please contact the Group Organiser before booking to discuss any special access requirements.