Fareham in Hampshire

Fareham is to be found in between the important ports of Portsmouth and Gosport located in the north-west corner of Portsmouth Harbour on the south coast of England. The town played no defensive role as did it's neighbours. Fareham's creeks have provided a safe haven for sea going vessels for a very long time. Portsdown Hill not only provided the shelter for Fareham but on its slopes were grown corn which was grown by a tidal mill.

Around the 10th century there is evidence of a settlement surrounding an ancient church named St Peter and St Paul situated on higher ground above the Wallington River. The borough of Fareham was under the control of the Bishops of Winchester prior to the time of the Domesday survey and it was entitled to pay less taxes due to its position on the coast and possible attack from the Danes. (try getting away with that reason to-day!) Bishops would levy taxes from the people in exchange for certain rights such as holding markets and fairs and for the courts.

The Bishops extracted much wealth through a system of boroughs and manors in the 13th century and became powerful with the see of Winchester attaining the richest of anywhere in England. A bishop named Peter des Roches who held office from 1205 to 1238 gave his name to one of Fareham's grandest old houses, Roches Court which may have been his summer palace.

Fareham was always a rural settlement until about the second half of the 20th century. Fareham Park was a place where the king would hunt for deer and wood from it's forest was used for the making of the ships of the realm along with Titchfield Park and the Forest of Bere.

In 1588, the year of the Armada, men from Fareham were called upon to take up arms in the event of an invasion from any Spanish landings but were not required due the Spanish Armada being destroyed off the Isle of Wight.

During the 19th century Fareham started to have some light industry but agriculture was still the main way of earning a living off the fields on the slopes of Portsdown Hill. Although to-day the area has been considerable developed it is still possible to see the corn shining in the fields on a bright summers day.