Fareham

Fareham is a market town at the north-west tip of Portsmouth Harbour, between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton in the south east of Hampshire. It gives its name to the borough that comprises the town and its surrounding area.

Fareham is an affluent market town lying between Southampton to the west and Portsmouth to the east. The housing stock is a mix of affordable homes to millionaires mansions, and everything in between.

One of the reasons why Fareham is such a popular place to settle is the transport links. It has a railway station, road links to Park Gate and beyond, and several junctions that link to the M27. If you work in Portsmouth or Southampton, Fareham is the ideal commuter town.

You have Cams Hall Golf Club, Fareham Shopping Centre, several wide-open spaces and outlying villages like Funtley, Carisbrooke and Portchester. Fareham has a small yachting community, serviced by Fareham Quay, with its collection of mismatched properties and old rope mills.

If you are looking for a town with a historic high street with many listed and important buildings, great shopping facilities, outstanding transport links and modernity interwoven with historical references, Fareham is the town for you.

Fareham's History

Most of Fareham owes its existence to the Romans, who first settled in the area of the old high street and Wallington. The town of Fernham was mentioned in the Domesday Book as a settlement of 90 dwellings. It was at Fareham creek that some of William the Conqueror's army disembarked and marched on the old capital of Winchester.

The creek was an important commercial port for hundreds of years, with the Bishop of Winchester Mills sited there. Even today, the creek serves commercial purposes, albeit in a reduced capacity.

Prominent iron pioneer Henry Cort had an ironworks in Fareham, located in the neighbouring village of Funtley. The Earl of Southampton owned much of the land to the west of Fareham, stretching towards Titchfield, and it is believed that the Earl was a patron of William Shakespeare, who visited the Earl and staged plays at Titchfield Abbey.

Fareham is most famous for its brickworks, which was a major employer in the area. Its bricks were used to build the Royal Albert Hall. Unfortunately, the industry declined in the 20th century.

Most of Fareham was developed during the 60s, 70s and 80s, turning it into the residential market town we see today.

For all the latest market trends, up-to-date information and just downright friendly advice, call, drop in or email our team at the Fareham office.