Gostrey Meadow, Farnham

The park covers 1.08h (2.7acres) and was created in 1910 by Farnham Urban District Council as a recreational area for the residents of Farnham. 

The name comes from 17th Century meadows, part of The Bush Hotel estate which was known as Gostreeds. Today the grounds include:

• A newly constructed childrens play area
• Mown grass areas for amenity use
• Specimen trees
• Bedding displays (planted and maintained by Farnham Town Council)
• Farnham's War Memorial
• Public toilets (managed by Farnham Town Council)
• Bowling green (home to Farnham Gostrey Bowls Club)
• The Borelli shelter
• A drinking fountain, designed by local architect Harold Falkner

The river Wey flows through the site, under South Street and along the side of Borelli Walk.

Open air services and events

As well as being a place for children to play, the park is used for open-air services and ceremonial events, fairs and circuses.

Gostrey Meadow remains close to Farnham's heart.

History of Gostrey Meadow

In the late 17th Century, Gostrey Meadow was part of an 11 acre estate owned by the bush hotel. Over the years the estate was broken up and, by the early 1900's, Gostrey Meadow was an area of waste land which was used as a rubbish dump.

In 1908, Farnham UDC decided to buy 2 acres of land off Union Road, together with 1 acre off South Street, to use as a public recreation ground. The purchase price was £1,250, but a further £320 was spent clearing and levelling the site, making footpaths, providing fencing and gates and constructing as bridge over the river.

Many local people gave gifts, including trees, roses, flowering plants, oak seats, a children's swing and £21 for a drinking fountain designed by local architect Harold Falkner. On 10th October 1910, Gostrey Meadow was opened to the public.

The War Memorial, designed by architect W.C Watson, was placed by the South Street entrance in 1919, and services are held on Remembrance Sunday every year. During the Second World War the meadow was the site of the British Restaurant, housed in two Nissen huts and staffed by the Women's Voluntary Service, which provided meals for hundreds of people every day. 

Page Updated: 02/12/2008 12:15