SHOTS were fired at Farnham Castle last Thursday as the mayors of Farnham and Waverley came together for tea as part of the national Heritage Open Days event.

Farnham Castle again hosted free guided tours of the Bishops Palace and grounds on Thursday afternoon, alongside dramatic re-enactments by the English Civil War Society.

Many visitors, including Farnham mayor John Ward and his Waverley counterpart Christopher Storey, also took the opportunity to enjoy afternoon tea in the Great Hall with music provided by the Farnham Chamber Music Club.

Gillian Ward, the mayoress of Farnham and one of the organisers of this year’s Heritage Open Days in Farnham, said: “The afternoon at the castle was extremely successful with visitor numbers up on last year.

“It was John’s birthday and the castle staff produced a birthday cake and arranged for the music group to play ‘happy birthday’ at the same time. It turned out that there was another lady there whose birthday was the same day and a 100-year-old lady celebrating too.”

“The display by The English Civil War Society went down very well too with their cannon and musket firing display on the front lawn,” she added.

Lots of sun and several downpours were the backdrop to this year’s successful Farnham Heritage Open Days.

The balloons and pink door signs were out to welcome visitors, and from Wrecclesham to Runfold and throughout the town centre there were four days of free and well-attended historic property openings, house tours, exhibitions, walks, performances and attractions.

Presented by The Farnham Society with support from the town council, this year’s event focussed on Farnham’s 150-year tradition of the teaching and application of arts and crafts.

The 19th Century Farnham Pottery in Wrecclesham took centre stage, displaying work by today’s craft potters, as did the Crafts Study Centre at the University for the Creative Arts, which has grown from a little 1870s art school into a fully-fledged university.

Sticking to the theme, Farnham museum also hosted an exhibition tracing the history of pottery making in the town and The Antiques Warehouse in Runfold held its own mini-Antiques Roadshow, inviting people to bring in items of interest to be valued.

Elsewhere, Farnham Rep gave two performances of ‘A pot of paint in the public’s face’ in the Culver Room at Farnham library, while morris dancers entertained passers-by in Lion and Lamb Yard and outside The Hop Blossom pub.

Several guided tours were given, including a walk in Farnham Park with archeologist David Graham and a tour of the Victoria Reservoir.

Renowned architect Michael Blower exhibited an expansive collection of his paintings and drawings at the Maltings, while the Recrafting Farnham team updated visitors at The Woolmead on its developing community-driven masterplan for Farnham.

A spokesman for this year’s event in Farnham said: “An amazing job was done by all the hosts, performers, guides and volunteers without whom Heritage Open Days would not happen.”