Harold Falkner

The family settled at 24 West Street, Farnham in 1883 and it was in this house that the young boy remained, running his architectural practice there until his death at the age of 88 on 30 November 1963.

He was frequently featured in the architectural press of the time and created buildings in a range of styles, from Arts and Crafts and Queen Anne to neo-Georgian and Tudor.

It was here that he realised some of his most interesting works as he built throughout his career a dozen or so important houses, using a variety of refurbishments, extensions and recycled old buildings as havens for the vernacular architecture of West Surrey.

Nonetheless, with the local politician, Charles Borelli, his lifelong friend and collaborator, Falkner was responsible for several important works intended to preserve and enhance the town centre of Farnham at a time when few architects respected the need to maintain this cultural heritage.

Aylwin, like the younger Stedman was apprenticed at the offices of Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was raised just outside Farnham and built many of his earliest and most successful projects there.

A number of his projects have been altered, restored and extended by the twin and eminent skills of architects, Michael Blower of Farnham and Roderick Gradidge of Chiswick, such as Overdeans Court, The Priory, Merlewood and Tancreds Ford (for the author Ken Follett).

Fortunately most are Grade 2 Listed Buildings and will remain along with his significant contribution to the town centre of Farnham, and the restoration and sensitive infill projects that he designed.

24 West Street, Farnham, where Falkner lived almost all his life and ran his practice from.
Falkner's notoriously shabby hat that he wore in his later years.