A Pond Built for a Bishop
Frensham Little Pond was created in 1246 when William de Raleigh, Bishop of Winchester, needed a reliable supply of fish for his visits to Farnham Castle. Workers built a dam across a stream on the common, flooding the low ground to create a fishpond. Nearly 800 years later, the dam and the pond remain, though the bishop's table is no longer the beneficiary.
The pond is the smaller of two medieval fishponds at Frensham – Great Pond, a short walk to the north, is larger and more popular with swimmers and families. Little Pond is the quieter sibling, favoured by birdwatchers and walkers who prefer solitude to activity.
The Heathland
Frensham Common covers 922 acres, encompassing both ponds and a large expanse of lowland heath designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, and a Special Area of Conservation. The heath is internationally important for its wildlife, supporting breeding populations of Dartford warblers, nightjars, and woodlarks.
The pond itself is rich in dragonflies – over 20 species have been recorded – and attracts wading birds including snipe, lapwing, and little ringed plover. Reed buntings breed in the marginal vegetation. In winter, the pond draws teal, wigeon, and occasional rarities that attract birders from across the county.
Walking at Frensham
Frensham Little Pond is now part of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve, linking it to other protected heathlands across Surrey and Sussex. A circular walk of about two miles loops the pond and crosses the surrounding heath. The terrain is flat and sandy underfoot, with boardwalks over the wetter sections. Frensham is four miles south of Farnham, in the far west of Surrey.
