Frensham village is positioned in the south west of Surrey and is its Ponds are extremely well know in the area. Today the parish consists of the villages of Frensham and Rushmoor with Frensham Common and Ponds between them.
Evidence exists that the area has been settled for over 8000 years. Mesolithic pit dwellings at the bottom of the Devils Jumps, and Neolithic axes and tools around Spreakley and the Ponds. Hundreds of Bronze Age arrowheads have been found, and there are several barrow burial sites at Spreakley, Gong Hill and the Kings Ridge. Frensham and Tilford probably had a big population 3000 years ago.
At the time of the Roman invasion, Iron Age Celts had settled in the area. After the Romans left, Saxons came to Surrey. The remains of weaving huts dating back to 550 AD were found at the foot of Firgrove Hill. In 688 AD King Caedwallas charter granted the Church 60 hides of land including Frensham, Churt and Farnham. So the area became associated with the diocese of Winchester.
In 893 AD, a Danish raiding party lost their battle to the Saxons under King Alfreds son, Edward. The battle took place at a site thought to be between Gong Hill, Tilford and Spreakley.
The Great Frensham Pond is thought to have existed since around 1200. A small area on the east side of the pond is thought to be very ancient. There are remains on both sides of the Ponds.
The Little Pond, which was once called Crowsfoot, was built by the orders of Bishop de Ralegh in 1246 and was stocked with fish including bream, pike and carp.
Frensham today is very different. The hop fields and oast houses are gone and have been converted into houses. Just two farms are still there, Pierrepont and Pitts, and the increase in private transport has sadly seen the closure of most local shops. But there is still the best pubs in Farnham.
Only twenty years ago there were four village shops, two post offices, a butchers, a bank and three garages selling petrol. That is now reduced to one shop.
However, there is an insatiable demand for houses, particularly equestrian. Tourism is flourishing with the beauty of the Ponds and Frensham ponds are a popular tourist hotspot for visitors from near and far.
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