Fareham
Encyclopedia
The market town
of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire
, England
, between the cities of Southampton
and Portsmouth
, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire
conurbation.
It gives its name to the borough
comprising the town and the surrounding area. To the south of the town lies Gosport
, itself a separate borough, to the east Portchester
, to the north the M27 motorway
and Wickham
, part of the City of Winchester. Westwards lie Titchfield
; Catisfield
, Locks Heath
, Warsash
and Whiteley
, which is also shared with the City of Winchester.
Fareham traditionally relied on its clay soil for industry, producing bricks, tiles and chimney pots. This past is commemorated through place names such as Kiln Road. The most famous example of a building constructed of "Fareham red bricks" is probably the Royal Albert Hall
, London
. The main economic activity in Fareham is now retail, employing 15% of the local population. Fareham has also become a popular choice for the location of business call centres; several of the UK's major banks have offices in Fareham and Adecco, the recruitment agency, claims Fareham as the second best call centre location in the UK .
Fareham is situated at the north-west tip of Portsmouth Harbour
where the River Wallington
joins. Small industries still operate, reflecting Fareham's maritime past. HM Royal Navy
operate in Fareham with the Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood
, training well over 2,000 British and foreign sailors at any one time .
Archaeological excavations: around the old High street area and the church of St Peter & Paul; on high ground over the Wallington Estuary, have yielded evidence of settlement on the site contemporary with the Roman occupation. However, no extensive programme of investigation has been possible, due to the historic nature of the buildings in this area.
The town has a recognised and documented history dating back to the Norman
era, when a part of William's army marched up from Fareham Creek before continuing to the Saxon capital of England, Winchester. Originally known by the name of Ferneham (hence the name of the town's entertainment venue, Ferneham Hall), Fareham's location was determined by the ford of Fareham Creek at the top of Portsmouth Harbour
. The ford was also the location of the Bishop of Winchester
's mills
; the foundations of these mills were subsumed in the A27 near the railway viaduct. Commercial activity continued at the port until the 1970s, and continues to this day on a smaller scale. By the beginning of the 20th century, Fareham had developed into a major market town.
In the 1960s, Fareham experienced a huge amount of development, as it was one of the areas highlighted for major expansion in the South Hampshire Plan
. The idea was to create many thousands of homes to serve as a base for the many people who were looking to move away from the traditional urban centres of Portsmouth and Southampton. It was during this era that the large housing areas of Hill Park, Miller Drive, and much of Portchester
grew until eventually one could drive through a continuous urban conurbation from Portsmouth
City Centre to Southampton
. By this time Fareham had expanded to almost encompass the surrounding villages of Funtley
, Titchfield
, Catisfield
and Portchester
.
Fareham is now at a stage of maturity as a town. As a place to live, it is increasingly popular, with plentiful housing and open space. Additionally the local shopping area has become more of a local destination since the arrival of a regular market and additional store openings in recent times.
In the late 1990s, a settlement called Whiteley
, straddling the boundaries of Fareham Borough and the City of Winchester
, was developed to the north of Junction 9 of the M27 motorway
. The new development is predominantly residential, however it features the extensive Solent Business Park and a modern shopping centre, Whiteley
Village http://www.whiteleyvillage.com/, on Winchester's side of Whiteley. The latter comprises a range of outlet shops, and aims to draw customers from a wide catchment area across South Hampshire
, the outlet shops are currently being demolished and rebuilt however.
An urban renewal initiative began in 1999, renovating the town centre and historic buildings to include a new entertainment and shopping complex. It featured a major iron
sculpture
park, claimed to be the largest in Europe, which was installed in 2001, to celebrate the work of influential Lancastrian iron pioneer, Henry Cort
, who lived in neighbouring Gosport but who had an iron rolling mill in Funtley (or Fontley), on the outskirts of Fareham. There is also a school named after Henry Cort, as "The Henry Cort Community College".
passes around the northern edge of Fareham, and is the main traffic artery
into and out of the area. It provides easy access to both Portsmouth
and Southampton
, and from there to London
via the M3 and A3(M)
.
The A27
was the original route along the south coast before the building of the M27, and runs from Brighton
to Southampton
, passing through the centre of Fareham. The A32
passes through Fareham at the Quay Street roundabout, known locally as a notorious bottleneck, on its way from Gosport to Wickham
, and then through the picturesque Meon Valley
to Alton
.
Fareham railway station
is on the West Coastway Line
, with regular services to Portsmouth
, Southampton
, , Cardiff
and London
. Until 1953, passenger services also ran south to Gosport
.
Bus transport in the town is provided by First Hampshire & Dorset
, which runs nearly all bus routes in the area. Services run as far as Winchester
. The main bus station
is adjacent to the Market Quay development, and replaced an older station that was demolished in the late 1980s.
features a fine collection of Georgian
buildings, home to many of the town's restaurants. The town centre has been improved to bring it up to modern standards, and the recent opening of the Market Quay development has added a cinema
(Apollo) and another nightclub
(party venue Chicago Rock) to the area, after the troublesome Prague Junction was closed down. New to Fareham traders Next and Top Shop have opened stores to try to attract a wider range of shoppers, and Tesco and Debenhams have expressed some interest in the town too - Debenhams having opened a small store in the shopping centre and Tesco a large supermarket on the edge of the busy Market Quay roundabout. A theatre, Ferneham Hall, is located in the town centre, though it was announced in November 2010 that the venue had yet to make any profit whatsover during its 28 year history. A council report suggested a complete overhaul of its entertainments programme to bring it into the 21st century. The Ashcroft Cenre specialises in amateur theatre productions.
In the surrounding area, there are several attractions of national interest
:
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, between the cities of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire
South Hampshire
South Hampshire or Solent City is a term used mainly to refer to the metropolitan area formed by the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton and their suburbs and commuter towns, in southern Hampshire, England. The area has population of around 1 million based on the 2001 census...
conurbation.
It gives its name to the borough
Fareham (borough)
Fareham is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Fareham. Other places within the Borough include Portchester, Stubbington, Hill Head, Titchfield, Warsash, Locks Heath, Sarisbury and half of Whiteley...
comprising the town and the surrounding area. To the south of the town lies Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, itself a separate borough, to the east Portchester
Portchester
Portchester is a locality and suburb 10km northwest of Portsmouth, England. It is part of the borough of Fareham in Hampshire. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation between Portsmouth and Southampton, on the A27 main thoroughfare...
, to the north the M27 motorway
M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
and Wickham
Wickham
Wickham, formerly spelled Wykeham, is a small historic village and civil parish in Hampshire, southern England, located about three miles north of Fareham. It is within the City of Winchester local government district, although it is considerably closer to Fareham than to Winchester...
, part of the City of Winchester. Westwards lie Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
; Catisfield
Catisfield
Catisfield is an area of Fareham, Hampshire, England. Originally a small village in its own right, it has now merged with the western edge of the town.-A hamlet:...
, Locks Heath
Locks Heath
Locks Heath is a western residential suburb of Fareham, in the south of Hampshire, England. It lies to the southeast of Sarisbury east of Warsash, to the west of Titchfield, and to the south of Park Gate and Swanwick...
, Warsash
Warsash
Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the area known as Locks Heath. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club...
and Whiteley
Whiteley
Whiteley is a community in the county of Hampshire, England, near Fareham. The development straddles the boundary between two council districts: the Borough of Fareham to the south and east, and the city of Winchester to the north and west.-Location:...
, which is also shared with the City of Winchester.
Fareham traditionally relied on its clay soil for industry, producing bricks, tiles and chimney pots. This past is commemorated through place names such as Kiln Road. The most famous example of a building constructed of "Fareham red bricks" is probably the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The main economic activity in Fareham is now retail, employing 15% of the local population. Fareham has also become a popular choice for the location of business call centres; several of the UK's major banks have offices in Fareham and Adecco, the recruitment agency, claims Fareham as the second best call centre location in the UK .
Fareham is situated at the north-west tip of Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
where the River Wallington
River Wallington
The River Wallington is a small river in south Hampshire. Rising close to Waterlooville the river flows westerly around Portsdown Hill through the village of Southwick , past Fareham, before entering Portsmouth Harbour at Wallington....
joins. Small industries still operate, reflecting Fareham's maritime past. HM Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
operate in Fareham with the Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood
HMS Collingwood (establishment)
For ships of the same name see HMS Collingwood.HMS Collingwood is a stone frigate of the Royal Navy. It is the lead establishment of the Maritime Warfare School and the largest naval training organisation in Western Europe...
, training well over 2,000 British and foreign sailors at any one time .
History
The town has a recognised and documented history dating back to the Norman
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
era, when a part of William's army marched up from Fareham Creek before continuing to the Saxon capital of England, Winchester. Originally known by the name of Ferneham (hence the name of the town's entertainment venue, Ferneham Hall), Fareham's location was determined by the ford of Fareham Creek at the top of Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
. The ford was also the location of the Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
's mills
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
; the foundations of these mills were subsumed in the A27 near the railway viaduct. Commercial activity continued at the port until the 1970s, and continues to this day on a smaller scale. By the beginning of the 20th century, Fareham had developed into a major market town.
In the 1960s, Fareham experienced a huge amount of development, as it was one of the areas highlighted for major expansion in the South Hampshire Plan
South Hampshire Plan
The South Hampshire Plan was a co-ordinated housing plan instigated in the 1960s in the southern portion of the English county of Hampshire....
. The idea was to create many thousands of homes to serve as a base for the many people who were looking to move away from the traditional urban centres of Portsmouth and Southampton. It was during this era that the large housing areas of Hill Park, Miller Drive, and much of Portchester
Portchester
Portchester is a locality and suburb 10km northwest of Portsmouth, England. It is part of the borough of Fareham in Hampshire. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation between Portsmouth and Southampton, on the A27 main thoroughfare...
grew until eventually one could drive through a continuous urban conurbation from Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
City Centre to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. By this time Fareham had expanded to almost encompass the surrounding villages of Funtley
Funtley
Funtley – from the Anglo-Saxon, "Funtaleg", meaning "Springs", formerly known as Fontley – is a village located to the north of Fareham, Hampshire, England, within the borough of Fareham. Originally it grew due to the development of a quarry there, used to extract the clay that was...
, Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
, Catisfield
Catisfield
Catisfield is an area of Fareham, Hampshire, England. Originally a small village in its own right, it has now merged with the western edge of the town.-A hamlet:...
and Portchester
Portchester
Portchester is a locality and suburb 10km northwest of Portsmouth, England. It is part of the borough of Fareham in Hampshire. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation between Portsmouth and Southampton, on the A27 main thoroughfare...
.
Fareham is now at a stage of maturity as a town. As a place to live, it is increasingly popular, with plentiful housing and open space. Additionally the local shopping area has become more of a local destination since the arrival of a regular market and additional store openings in recent times.
In the late 1990s, a settlement called Whiteley
Whiteley
Whiteley is a community in the county of Hampshire, England, near Fareham. The development straddles the boundary between two council districts: the Borough of Fareham to the south and east, and the city of Winchester to the north and west.-Location:...
, straddling the boundaries of Fareham Borough and the City of Winchester
City of Winchester
Winchester is a local government district in Hampshire, England, with city status. It covers an area of central Hampshire including the city of Winchester itself, and neighbouring towns and villages including New Alresford, Colden Common and Bishops Waltham....
, was developed to the north of Junction 9 of the M27 motorway
M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
. The new development is predominantly residential, however it features the extensive Solent Business Park and a modern shopping centre, Whiteley
Whiteley
Whiteley is a community in the county of Hampshire, England, near Fareham. The development straddles the boundary between two council districts: the Borough of Fareham to the south and east, and the city of Winchester to the north and west.-Location:...
Village http://www.whiteleyvillage.com/, on Winchester's side of Whiteley. The latter comprises a range of outlet shops, and aims to draw customers from a wide catchment area across South Hampshire
South Hampshire
South Hampshire or Solent City is a term used mainly to refer to the metropolitan area formed by the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton and their suburbs and commuter towns, in southern Hampshire, England. The area has population of around 1 million based on the 2001 census...
, the outlet shops are currently being demolished and rebuilt however.
An urban renewal initiative began in 1999, renovating the town centre and historic buildings to include a new entertainment and shopping complex. It featured a major iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
park, claimed to be the largest in Europe, which was installed in 2001, to celebrate the work of influential Lancastrian iron pioneer, Henry Cort
Henry Cort
Henry Cort was an English ironmaster. During the Industrial Revolution in England, Cort began refining iron from pig iron to wrought iron using innovative production systems. In 1783 he patented the puddling process for refining iron ore...
, who lived in neighbouring Gosport but who had an iron rolling mill in Funtley (or Fontley), on the outskirts of Fareham. There is also a school named after Henry Cort, as "The Henry Cort Community College".
Transport
Fareham is well served by the major road and rail networks. The M27 motorwayM27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
passes around the northern edge of Fareham, and is the main traffic artery
Arterial road
An arterial road, or arterial thoroughfare, is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible. As such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or feature...
into and out of the area. It provides easy access to both Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, and from there to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via the M3 and A3(M)
A3 road
The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road for much of its length, is a dual carriageway, or expressway, which follows the historic route between London and Portsmouth passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. For much of its length, it is classified as a trunk road...
.
The A27
A27 road
The A27 is a major road in England. It runs from its junction with the A36 at Whiteparish in the county of Wiltshire. It closely parallels the south coast, where it passes through West Sussex and terminates at Pevensey in East Sussex.Between Portsmouth and Lewes, it is one of the busiest trunk...
was the original route along the south coast before the building of the M27, and runs from Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, passing through the centre of Fareham. The A32
A32 road
The A32 is a road in Hampshire, southern England, that links Gosport and Alton. Starting at Gosport, facing Portsmouth, it travels north via Fareham, Wickham, Droxford, before joining the A31 road near Alton...
passes through Fareham at the Quay Street roundabout, known locally as a notorious bottleneck, on its way from Gosport to Wickham
Wickham
Wickham, formerly spelled Wykeham, is a small historic village and civil parish in Hampshire, southern England, located about three miles north of Fareham. It is within the City of Winchester local government district, although it is considerably closer to Fareham than to Winchester...
, and then through the picturesque Meon Valley
River Meon
The River Meon is a river that flows through an area of Hampshire in southern England known as the Meon Valley, it flows generally southwards from the South Downs to the Solent. For most of its route it is a chalk stream, with a length of 21 miles .The River Meon rises approximately...
to Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
.
Fareham railway station
Fareham railway station
Fareham railway station is a railway station on the West Coastway Line situated about from the town of Fareham in Hampshire.- History :Fareham station was first opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1841 on the line from Eastleigh to Gosport. Later additions connected Fareham station...
is on the West Coastway Line
West Coastway Line
The West Coastway Line is a railway line in England, along the south coast of West Sussex and Hampshire, between Brighton and Southampton, plus the short branches to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis....
, with regular services to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, , Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Until 1953, passenger services also ran south to Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
.
Bus transport in the town is provided by First Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset is a subsidiary bus company within FirstGroup, which operates buses and trains throughout Great Britain.First Hampshire & Dorset has its head office in Empress Road, Southampton and operates bus services in the Weymouth and Bridport areas in Dorset; and services in...
, which runs nearly all bus routes in the area. Services run as far as Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. The main bus station
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
is adjacent to the Market Quay development, and replaced an older station that was demolished in the late 1980s.
Places of interest
Fareham has in recent years developed several attractions to draw visitors to the town. The historic High StreetHigh Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
features a fine collection of Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
buildings, home to many of the town's restaurants. The town centre has been improved to bring it up to modern standards, and the recent opening of the Market Quay development has added a cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
(Apollo) and another nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
(party venue Chicago Rock) to the area, after the troublesome Prague Junction was closed down. New to Fareham traders Next and Top Shop have opened stores to try to attract a wider range of shoppers, and Tesco and Debenhams have expressed some interest in the town too - Debenhams having opened a small store in the shopping centre and Tesco a large supermarket on the edge of the busy Market Quay roundabout. A theatre, Ferneham Hall, is located in the town centre, though it was announced in November 2010 that the venue had yet to make any profit whatsover during its 28 year history. A council report suggested a complete overhaul of its entertainments programme to bring it into the 21st century. The Ashcroft Cenre specialises in amateur theatre productions.
In the surrounding area, there are several attractions of national interest
National interest
The national interest, often referred to by the French expression raison d'État , is a country's goals and ambitions whether economic, military, or cultural. The concept is an important one in international relations where pursuit of the national interest is the foundation of the realist...
:
- The Royal ArmouriesRoyal ArmouriesThe Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom's National Museum of Arms and Armour. It is the United Kingdom's oldest museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world. It is also one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world, comprising the UK's National Collection of Arms and...
Museum - The HovercraftHovercraftA hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
Museum - Lee-on-the-SolentLee-on-the-SolentLee-on-the-Solent, often referred to as Lee-on-Solent, is a small seaside town in Hampshire, England about five miles west of Portsmouth. The town is located on the coast of the Solent and forms part of the borough of Gosport... - Portchester CastlePortchester CastlePortchester Castle is a medieval castle built within a former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham in the English county of Hampshire. Probably founded in the late 11th century, Portchester was a baronial castle that was taken under royal control in 1154. The monarchy controlled...
- Titchfield AbbeyTitchfield AbbeyTitchfield Abbey is a medieval abbey and later country house, located in the village of Titchfield near Fareham in Hampshire, England. The abbey was founded in 1222 for Premonstratensian canons, an austere order of priests...
& The Tithe BarnTithe barnA tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church.... - Westbury Manor MuseumWestbury Manor MuseumWestbury Manor Museum is the main town centre museum located at 84 West Street, Fareham, Hampshire, England. It features a variety of exhibits on local history, such as the use of Fareham red bricks in the construction of the Royal Albert Hall...
- Fort Fareham
Education
Fareham has 30 primary and junior schools, 2 secondary schools, 4 community schools, 4 independent schools, and 4 special schools.Notable residents
- William Randal CremerWilliam Randal CremerSir William Randal Cremer usually known by his middle name "Randal", was an English Liberal Member of Parliament and pacifist....
, born in Fareham - Robert GoddardRobert Goddard (novelist)Robert Francis Goddard is a British novelist.-Life and career:Goddard was educated at Wallisdean County Junior School and Price's Grammar School in Fareham before going on to study history at the University of Cambridge...
, author - Sir John Goss, composer (and organist at St Paul's CathedralSt Paul's CathedralSt Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
for 34 years) - Tom OliverTom OliverTom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...
, actor, most famous for playing "Lou CarpenterLou CarpenterLouis "Lou" Carpenter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tom Oliver. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1988. Lou appeared for a brief time, before leaving and later returning in January 1992 as a regular cast member. He is the longest...
" in the Australian soap opera NeighboursNeighboursNeighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, grew up in Fareham.