HAVANT, a market-town and parish and liberty, in
the Portsdown division-of "the county of SOUTHAMPTON,
21 miles (E. by S.) from Southampton, and 64
(S.w.) from London, containing 2099 inhabitants. The
town, situated on the high road from Southampton
and Fareham to Chichester, is neatly built, and consists
principally of one long street, intersected by another at
right angles; it is partially paved and well supplied with
water, but not lighted. There are a subscription newsroom
and a book club. The manufacture of parchment
is carried on to some extent. The market, granted by
King John, but now very inconsiderable, is held on Saturday;
and there are fairs on June 22nd and October
17th. This parish is within the jurisdiction of the
Cheyney Court held at Winchester every Thursday,
for the recovery of debts to any amount. The living
is -a rectory, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the incumbent,
rated in the king's books at £24. 6. Of.,
and in the patronage of the Bishop of Winchester.
The church, dedicated to St. Faith, and standing in
the centre of the town, is a cruciform structure,
with a tower rising from the intersection: the architecture
is of different periods; the chancel has a handsome
groined ceiling, and at the east end a painted
window has been .recently put up, the gift of Sir John
Staunton, Bart., of Leigh park, in this parish. The
church has lately received an addition of one hundred
and seventy free sittings, towards defraying the expense
of which, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement
of churches and chapels contributed £20. There are
places of worship for Independents and Roman Catholics.
A National school for about one hundred boys
and seventy girls is supported by subscription: there is
likewise a school on the Lancasterian system. About
four years since a swing-bridge was erected, at an expense
of nearly £12,000, across the channel which connects
Langston harbour with that of Chichester, thus
affording a communication with Hayling Island, which
lies about a mile to the south of Havant. Vessels of two
hundred tons burden enter Langston harbour with coal,
oysters, &c.