Catisfield

Catisfield is a small village that has become part of the suburban sprawl of Fareham, Hampshire, England. Originally a small village in its own right, it now serves little purpose other than a quaint curio in an otherwise faceless environment of 1960s and 1970s housing developments.The recent one is to demolish and create flats at the old retirement home and is being built as we speak

A hamlet

Originally a hamlet, Catisfield is first mentioned in the Pipe Roll of the Bishopric of Winchester in 1210 and mentioned in 1279 in the tithing of North Fareham, when Catisfield, Dean, Pokesole, Cams and Bedenham had been added to the Hundred ofFareham. [Malcolm Low, "Catisfield", private publication can be viewed in the Fareham Library Reference section or the Westbury Manor Museum Reference section, Fareham, Hampshire ]

The location of Catisfield is at the north of Titchfield village on the eastern edge of the Meon Valley. There is little documented history relating to Catisfield; amongst the records that are available there is mention of it as a small hamlet sited on the crest of Titchfield Hill at a historically significant road junction overlooking the Meon Valley. Before the 19th century Catisfield was at the junction of historic routes to Botley, Stubbington, Titchfield, Southampton, Fareham and Portsmouth. It is said that Samuel Pepys probably rode through it on his travels as did Margaret of Anjou on her way to Titchfield Abbey at the bottom of Fishers Hill from Southwick in 1445, for the reconfirmation of her marriage in France to Henry VI. [ Malcolm Low 'Catisfield' ]

However, it does still feature the original, but no longer used, post office and some very nicely preserved Georgian and Victorian buildings, and manages to preserve an impression of a country village, despite its location on a popular shortcut to the M27 motorway.

It is also very close to Titchfield Abbey and the picturesque River Meon, which lie just down Fishers Hill.

References