PETERSFIELD, a
parish in the hundred of
FINCH-DEAN, Alton (South)
division of the county of
SOUTHAMPTON, comprising
the borough town of Petersfield,
and the tything
of Sheet, and containing
1752 inhabitants, of which
number, 1446 are in the
borough of Petersfield, 24
miles (E. N. E.) from Southampton,
and 54 (S. W.)
from London. This small town is situated on the road
from London to Portsmouth; the streets are partly
lighted by subscription, tolerably paved, and well supplied
with water. In the centre of the market-place
is a fine equestrian statue of William III., erected at
the expense of the late William Jolliffe, Esq., one of the
representatives for this borough; it was formerly gilt,
but has been lately coloured to resemble stone. Great
improvements have been recently made in the roads in
the neighbourhood, and others are in progress. The
market, which is also for corn and cattle, is every alternate
Wednesday; and fairs are on July 10th, for toys, &c.;
October 6th, established within the last ten years, for
lean cattle; and December llth, for sheep. The town,
which was incorporated by charter of Elizabeth, is governed
by a mayor and commonalty: the mayor, whose
office is become merely titular, is appointed annually
at the court leet of the lord of the manor, held in
January, in the town hall, at which a constable and
two tythingmen are also chosen. A court of requests,
for the recovery of debts under 40s., formerly held here,
has been disused for the last forty years. The town
hall was rebuilt, about three years since, at the expense
of Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. This borough made one return
to parliament in the 35th of Edward I., and then discontinued
until the reign of Edward VI., since which
it has returned two members: the right of election was
originally vested in the proprietors of houses, or shambles,
built on ancient foundations, but is now in the
freeholders generally: the number of voters is not precisely
known; the mayor is the returning officer, and
the influence of Hylton Jolliffe, Esq. is predominant.
The living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the
rectory of Buriton, in the archdeaconry and diocese of
Winchester. The chapel is dedicated to St. Peter.
There are places of worship for Independents and Wes-
leyan Methodists. Churcher's college was founded and
endowed with £3000 by Richard Churcher, in 1722,
for boarding, clothing, and educating from ten to
twelve boys, who should be subsequently apprenticed
to masters of ships voyaging to the East Indies; this
institution was further regulated by act of parliament,
obtained in 1744; the.annual income is £568. 8, 8.;
the master receives a salary of £40 per annum, and is
allowed'-to take boarders and day scholars: there are
twelve boys on the foundation. One poor child is eligible
for apprenticeship from this town, every alternate year,
by means of a benefaction from Bishop Lanney to the
parish of Buriton. There is an unendowed almshouse,
consisting of four tenements, for poor and aged persons,
founded by Thomas Antrobus, in 1622.