About
Farnborough
Farnborough
dates back to Norman times and lies on the north-east
Hampshire border with north-west Surrey.
In
1879, Farnborough was the town chosen by Her Imperial
Majesty, the Empress Eugenie, who was the widow of
Napoleon III of France, for her main residence. She
acquired the country estate know as Farnborough Hill
which was transformed into a magnificent mansion.
A mausoleum was created as a final resting place for
her late husband and son. An ornate monastery was
also constructed which became an Abbey in 1903. Empress
Eugenie died in 1920, aged 93, and was interned alongside
her husband and son. The grand funeral was attended
by King George V and Queen Mary, along with other
foreign royalty and European heads of state. To perpetuate
the memory of Farnborough's most celebrated resident,
the highly favoured residential development of Empress
Park which is set on the edge of the original Farnborough
Hill estate, incorporates road name associated with
this remarkable lady.
The
local economy is particularly strong with full employment,
prompted by a number of locally based major employers.
The thriving central shopping centre has been attractively
redeveloped with further expansion planned. The town
provides a wide selection of highly rated schools.
Farnborough
railway station is on the main West Country line,
serving Waterloo in only 37 minutes. Farnborough North
and North Camp railway stations are both on the Reading,
Guildford and Gatwick Airport line. Road access is
well served by junctions 4 and 4a of the M3 motorway,
connecting to the M25 and Sunbury with the M27 near
Southampton. The dual carriageway relief road (A331)
adjoins the east side of Farnborough and links junction
4 of the M3 directly with the dual carriageway of
the Hogs Back (A31), which connects with the A3 to
London.
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