Fareham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fareham |
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 Fareham Creek |
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 Fareham
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| Population | 42,210 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SU578048 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FAREHAM |
| Postcode district | PO14 – PO17 |
| Dialling code | 01329, 01489, 023 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Fareham (/ˈfɛərəm/ FAIR-əm) is a lively market town in Hampshire, England. It sits at the very top of Portsmouth Harbour, between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton. Fareham is well-known for its history of making bricks, some of which were used to build the famous Royal Albert Hall. It was also a big grower of strawberries and other fruits. In 2011, about 42,210 people called Fareham home.
Contents
History of Fareham
Fareham has a long history, dating back to the Norman times. Back then, part of William the Conqueror's army marched through Fareham Creek. The town was first called Ferneham. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, which said it had 90 households.
Fareham Creek was also home to the Bishop of Winchester's mills, which ground grain. The town's port was busy with trade until the 1970s, and some smaller-scale activity still happens today.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Fareham grew a lot. It expanded to include nearby villages like Funtley, Titchfield, Catisfield, and Portchester. Later, in the 1990s, a new area called Whiteley was built. It's mostly homes but also has the large Solent Business Park.
In 1995, a grand old house called Cams Hall was brought back to life. It became offices, and the land around it was turned into a golf course and a modern technology park.
Since 1997, Fareham has been home to the UK's Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC). This important centre helps coordinate all Maritime & Coastguard Agency Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters, making sure people are safe at sea.
The town centre got a big makeover starting in 1999. Historic buildings were restored, and new shops and entertainment spots were added. In 2001, a special iron sculpture park was created. It celebrates Henry Cort, an important iron pioneer who had a mill nearby.
Arts and Culture
Fareham used to have a multi-purpose venue called Ferneham Hall. It opened in 1982 and closed in 2020 for renovations. The building is now being transformed and will reopen as Fareham Live.
The Ashcroft Arts Centre, located on Osborn Road, is another cultural spot. It has a 150-seat theatre, an art gallery, and a studio for dance and music. They offer many events, including films, plays, comedy shows, and workshops.
In the pedestrian area of West Street, you can see a permanent exhibition of iron sculptures. These 12 sculptures were made by different blacksmith artists. They celebrate the work of Henry Cort, who developed new ways to refine iron in the 18th century. The sculptures show Fareham's history as a market town and are the largest of their kind in Britain.
Education
Fareham College is a well-regarded college in the area. In 2017, it received an "Outstanding" rating from OFSTED, which inspects schools and colleges in England.
Sport and Leisure
Fareham has its own Non-League football club, called Fareham Town F.C..
Transport in Fareham
Road Travel
The M27 motorway runs around the north side of Fareham. It's the main road for getting in and out of the area. The M27 connects Fareham quickly to Portsmouth and Southampton. From there, you can easily reach London using the M3 and A3(M).
The A27 was the main route along the south coast before the M27 was built. It goes through the centre of Fareham, connecting Brighton to Southampton. The A32 also passes through Fareham. It goes from Gosport to Wickham and through the Meon Valley to Alton.
In 2014, Fareham was noted for having a lot of cars. The Office for National Statistics reported that there were about 538.7 cars registered for every 1,000 residents in the town.
Train Travel
Fareham railway station is on the West Coastway Line. You can catch regular trains to Portsmouth, Southampton, Brighton, Cardiff, and London. In the past, trains also went south to Gosport and north to Alton, but these services stopped in the 1950s.
Bus Services
Most bus services in Fareham are run by First Hampshire & Dorset. Stagecoach South also has a service that goes as far north as Winchester. The main bus station is next to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Places of Interest
- Portchester Castle – A historic castle with Roman roots.
- Titchfield Abbey and The Tithe Barn – Ruins of a medieval abbey and a large barn.
- Westbury Manor Museum – A local museum with interesting exhibits.
- Fort Fareham – One of the Victorian forts built to protect Portsmouth.
- Bursledon Brickworks – The last working Victorian steam-powered brick factory.
- Titchfield Canal – Britain's second-oldest human-made waterway.
- Fareham High Street – A street with beautiful old Georgian buildings.
- Fareham Shopping Centre – A medium-sized shopping centre in the town.
- Holly Hill Country Park – A lovely Local Nature Reserve for walks and nature spotting.
Local Media
Fareham is home to ITV Meridian, which is the local ITV channel for the South and South-East of England. BBC South, based in Southampton, is the BBC region for the area. You can watch all BBC and ITV channels in Fareham. Signals come from the Rowridge Transmitter on the Isle of Wight.
There are also many radio stations available. Greatest Hits Radio South is on 105.2FM, Heart South is on 97.5FM, and Capital South is on 103.2FM. Other stations like Easy Radio South Coast (107.4FM), BBC Radio Solent (96.1FM), and Nation Radio South Coast (106.0FM) also serve Fareham. Express FM, a community radio station from Portsmouth, is on 93.7FM.
For local news, Fareham has two daily newspapers: the Southern Daily Echo and the Portsmouth News. There's also a free weekly newspaper called Fareham View.
Welborne: A New Town
Welborne is a planned new town that will be built north of the M27 motorway near Fareham. The plan is for it to have 6,000 homes, along with businesses and community facilities.
The planning for Welborne has been ongoing for some time. Building is expected to start soon, with the first homes possibly ready in 2023 or 2024.
Twin Towns
Fareham is twinned with two towns in other countries:
- Pulheim in Germany
- Vannes in France
Notable People from Fareham
- Randal Cremer (1828–1908) – A politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1903 for his work promoting international peace. He was born and educated in Fareham.
- Brendan O'Dowda (1925–2002) – A famous Irish singer who lived in Fareham.
- Tom Oliver (1938 – ) – An actor known for playing Lou Carpenter in the Australian TV show Neighbours. He grew up in Fareham.
- Robert Goddard (1954 – ) – A popular English novelist who was born and educated in Fareham.
- Steve Claridge (1966 – ) – A well-known English football pundit and former player. He grew up nearby and started his career at Fareham Town.
- Andy Vernon (1986 – ) – A British long-distance runner who was born in Fareham.
- Anjali Mulari (1993 – ) – An international ice and inline hockey player from New Zealand. She lived in Fareham while playing for the Solent Lizards.
Images for kids
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Historic cottages and houses in Fareham.
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The Anvil Man sculpture at the Henry Cort Sculpture Park.
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See also
In Spanish: Fareham para niños
