About the Trust

The object of the Trust

The Farnham (Building Preservation) Trust Limited was incorporated as a Company on 17th October 1968. It was one of the first building preservation trusts to be set up in this country, setting an example which has been followed by many other trusts in subsequent years. The principal charitable object of the Trust is to preserve for the benefit of the local community in Farnham and West Surrey any aspects of the English historical, architectural and constructional heritage which exists in that area.

The founding of the Trust

The Trust was founded by Sir John Verney, Bt., and Richard Dufty CBE, DLitt, FSA, two men of imagination and vision who had between them considerable expert knowledge of the town and its buildings. At the time, the concept of conservation was becoming increasingly popular, in reaction to postwar trends which saw widespread demolition of older buildings, and replacement with modem buildings often perceived as much less attractive. They saw that although the more important buildings were being given the protection of Listed status, numerous smaller old buildings, which contributed a great deal to the character of the street scene but were less highly regarded, were being swept away. They therefore set up the Farnham Trust with the particular aim of saving such buildings, restoring them and returning them in good condition for use by the community.

Helping to purchase Farnham Maltings

The Trust’s biggest project was at the Farnham Maltings in 1969, where the Trustees bought nine cottages which were part of the Maltings site, thus providing the balance of the funds needed to complete the purchase by the people of Farnham. These cottages, including Tanyard House, one of the oldest buildings in Farnham, were gradually restored by the Trust and sold.

Saving the Farnham Pottery

The second biggest project is the current one, the restoration of Farnham Pottery buildings in Wrecclesham. These unique buildings, of bricks and tiles made on site by the potters, were on the brink of a sale to a developer in 1998, when the old pottery business was failing. The buildings, only partly in use at the time, were falling into decay, but the Trust stepped in just in time to save them and get them Grade II Listed status. Since then, a slow process of restoration has been carried out. The Harris pottery business is no longer in existence, and the restored buildings have been let to craft workers, some for teaching groups, and others as individual workshops.































The Trustees

The Trust is a voluntary body consisting of  10 members forming a Council of Management, with a President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.  Its meetings are monthly, with other special meetings as required to carry out detailed management and an Annual General Meeting..

Financing the projects

The Farnham Trust is mainly self-funding, operating where possible on the principle of rolling capital, acquiring property, refurbishing it, and selling it, with the aim of rescuing threatened buildings which form part of the local heritage, and returning them to the community with a viable use.  The trust has no regular source of income other than that generated by projects, and it gratefully acknowledges valuable grant assistance with past projects provided by English Heritage, the Pilgrim Trust and Waverley Borough Council.  In the 1990s the sale of a property in Farnham town centre which had been unconditionally bequeathed to the trust, allowed it to build up some capital reserves which are being used in the continuing restoration of the Farnham Pottery.

Additional funding for the Farnham Pottery project has been provided by

Arts Council England
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
The Headley Trust
The Manifold Trust
Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust
Billmeir Trust
Surrey Historic Buildings Trust
The Pilgrim Trust
S.I.T.A. Environmental Trust
The Runfold Environmental Trust
The Farnham Lions
Farnham Institute Charity
Farnham Town Council
Waverley Borough Council
The South Street Trust

Preserving Farnham’s heritage

In the years since its foundation, the Trust has made a remarkable contribution to the preservation of the Farnham scene. It has been responsible for ten major projects, saving many buildings which might so easily have disappeared, and which today are regarded as treasured parts of Farnham’s heritage. In addition it has used its influence to encourage practical conservation in many buildings, with advice and occasional grants, and expert support when needed. The Farnham Trust has won several local and national awards for its work.



The Trust is a registered charity, No. 257954, a company registered in England No. 940781.