One of the most important historical buildings in south east England - and one often used as a TV and cinema location - has announced its 12th Century Keep is to be fully restored.

Farnham Castle will undergo the rebuilding work from May, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of over £700,000.

The grant aims to complete the final phase of a separate, major restoration programme which has taken place at the Castle over the past two years.

"Previously, a filming venue for Foyle's War, Location, Location, Location, Cash in the Attic, Simon Schama's History of Britain and Prince Edward's Tales from the Tower, the historic castle is set in five acres of grounds which overlook the picturesque town of Farnham," explained Jeff Toms, Director of Marketing and Client Services at Farnham Castle.

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"Representing more than 900 years of living history, most of the monarchs of England from King John to Queen Victoria visited or have stayed at the castle, so the Keep and the Bishop's Palace are popular local tourist attractions," he continued.

"The HLF grant will allow restoration of the Keep and enable us to open it to as wide an audience as possible," he continued, also noting the continuing use for film location work.

"The Castle Keep, which is a scheduled ancient monument, was originally built as a classic motte and bailey castle construction and formerly used as a defensive residence for the Bishops of Winchester.

"It has an unusual shell keep enclosing a mound which contains the massive foundations of the original Norman tower.

'The whole site, which includes the Keep, Bishop's Palace, Gatehouse and grounds is enclosed by an outer curtain wall provides the ideal location for filming and photography."

Farnham Castle was built in 1138 by a grandson of William the Conqueror and was a 'political powerhouse' for 800 years under the Bishops of Winchester, the Castle was used as a home and administrative centre until the 1920s.

The site has been continually occupied so much of the original fabric and layout of the Grade I and II listed site including examples of a Norman Chapel, 17th century Bishops Chapel as well as a magnificent Grinling Gibbons main staircase, survives in a form that has evolved gradually over time.

(BMcC/GK)