Farnborough - Example of Local Place

• Location of Farnborough:

  • Farnborough is located in the South East of England, in the North East of Hampshire county.
  • Farnborough falls under the borough of Rushmoor.
  • There are 3 train stations in and around Farnborough and the close surrounding areas, Farnborough Main, Farnborough North, North Camp.
  • Farnborough has two junctions of the M3 motorway, Junction 4 and 4A.
• History of Farnborough - 11th to 20th Century:

  • 1086 - Ferneberga (‘fern hill’) is mentioned in the Domesday book, having been founded in Saxon times.
  • 1778-1792 - Construction and opening of Basingstoke Canal.
  • Extension of the railway from Woking to Basingstoke and Winchester.
  • 1854 - Creation of 'Aldershot Camp' (Army)
  • 17th April 1860 - An illegal bare-knuckle fight took place in a field at the back of the Ship Inn, near the River Blackwater in Farnborough.
  • 1881 - Empress Eugenie founded St Michael’s Abbey (place of prayer and silence)
• History of Farnborough - Early 20th Century

  • 1906 - His Majesty’s Balloon Factory moved to Farnborough from Chatham. It was later to become the Royal Aircraft Establishment. Development of wind tunnels for testing aircraft
  • 1907 - First airship flight.
  • 1908 - Samuel F Cody made the first official sustained and controlled powered aeroplane flight in Great Britain, from Farnborough, covering some 496 yards in 27 secs at an altitude of 30 to 40 ft.
  • 1911 - The Balloon Factory became the Army Aircraft Factory.
• History of Farnborough - 20th Century:

  • 1918-1939 - Testing and development continued after the war but there was less investment.
  • 1939-1945 - Miss Beatrice Shilling and E Glaister solved the problems of engines cutting momentarily during negative 'g' manoeuvres leading to Miss Shilling receiving an OBE for her work. A pub was then named after her. High-speed wind tunnels used for testing of aircraft during WW2.
  • 1970 - M3 motorway opens linking Farnborough to London, Basingstoke and Southhampton.
• History of Farnborough - Late 20th Century & 21st Century

  • 1988 - The Royal Aircraft Establishment was renamed to the Royal Aerospace Establishment to reflect the increased breadth of research and development.
  • 1994 - A331, Blackwater Valley route opens, allowing traffic to bypass Farnborough between Camberley and Aldershot/Farnham.
  • 2003 - Farnborough airfield became a commercial airfield in 2003 and today covers some 550 hectares, dominating the landscape south of Farnborough Town.
• History of Farnborough - Changes to the Natural and Built Environment:

  • Decrease in forests and agricultural land and an increase in housing estates and industry.
  • Main road positions have remained constant but new roads have been built to accommodate new and expanding housing developments.
  • Reservoirs built between Farnborough and Farnham to provide clean water.
• Representations of Farnborough - Cartographic Sources:

  • Shows the view of the buildings and landscapes and how they change from above - Shows economic change.
  • Older maps may not be entirely accurate as they are all down to the artist's depiction of the landscape.
  • No visualisation of the movement of people as well as no data or statistics and is all down to interpretation.
• Continuity and Change in Farnborough - Tumbledown Dick:

  • Exterior of the pub hasn't changed but the car park and interior have changed.
  • The building is no longer a pub and is now a McDonalds showing gentrification occurring in Farnborough.
• Historical Lived Experience in Farnborough:

  • Population rapidly increased when the Aldershot Army Camp was opened and transport links improved.
  • Historically, Farnborough life was relaxed and 'soulful'.
• Contemporary Lived Experience in Farnborough:

  • The general consensus is that Farnborough is a prosperous town with great potential for expansion and improvement but it does not spring to mind as interesting or outlying.
  • Rushmoor Council have made some 'appalling' planning decisions, such as the demolition of the Ellis Community Centre (community perception).
  • It has demolished due to the discovery of large contents of Asbestos in the building making it unsafe to remain open.
  • Shows the lack of knowledge of their local area and environment possessed by some residents.
• Social Inequality of Farnborough - Census Data:

  • Cherrywood has a higher per cent of health, education qualifications and income compared to the rest of Farnborough. More unemployed, less full-time workers, and more long-term sick students. Significantly more people classify themselves as Asian than Farnborough as a whole.
  • More people actually own their home in Empress Ward
• Economic Change in Farnborough:

  • The most common jobs are in retail, information and communication as well as in science and technology.
  • Rushmoor residents on average earn more than the average for Hampshire, the South East and Britain.
  • People who live in Rushmoor earn more than that of people who work in Rushmoor.
  • Both Fluor and TAG are in the top 4 economic assets in Farnborough - both related to Farnborough Airport.
  • Huge technology sector that extends to the Blackwater Valley as well as Hart.