PETERSFIELD 1855 Post Office Directory

PETERSFIELD, with SHEET.

PETERSFIELD is a small but neat market and Union town, head of a division, and borough, recently lit up with gas, in the Hundred of Finch Dean, and South Alton division, on the old road from London to Portsmouth, 52 miles from the former, and 17 from the latter, 12 miles south of Alton, and 27 from Southampton. Previous to the establishment of the South Western railway, this town was of some importance from the large traffic passing through it; at one period there were nearly 30 coaches daily. The market is held every alternate Wednesday, which is well attended, and considerable business transacted in corn and stock of all sorts. The fairs are held July 10th, October 6th, on the Heath, and 11th December. The town is governed by the magistrates of the county, who meet every fortnight at the Town-hall, on the Tuesday before market day. Sir W. G. H. Jollifife, Bart., is member for the borough and lord of the manor. The civic officers of the borough consist of a mayor, who is elected annually, but is not a magistrate in virtue of his office; high constable of the lower half-Hundred of Finch Dean, two tithing-men, hayward, and leather sealers. There is an excellent institution, called Churcher's College, which boards, educates and clothes 14 boys, when they are apprenticed to some trade or profession, upon which a premium, not exceeding £30, is given, and an allowance of £3 per annum to each boy for the purchase of clothes. There are also National, British and Infant schools, all of which are well supported ; two almshouses, Antrobus's and Miss Parr's. The church, which is annexed to Buriton, is a plain but ancient structure, with a square tower, a chancel in which are several elegant monuments to the memory of the Jolliffe family, a nave, and 6 bells, and has considerable Norman remains.- The living of Buriton, with Petersfield and Sheet annexed, is a rectory, in the diocese of Winchester, and in the presentation of the bishop of the diocese; the rector is the Rev. John M. Sumner, who resides at Buriton ; and his curates are the Rev. John Williams, M.A., and the Rev. William Sealy, B.A., both of whom reside here. There is an Independent chapel, of an old foundation. A literary institution, known by the name of the Petersfield Library and Reading-rooms, was established in the year 1838, and is now in a flourishing condition. The population was returned in 1851, at 1,452 inhabitants, exclusive of Sheet tithing, with 274 acres of land. In the centre of the Market-square is an equestrian statue of William III., standing on a lofty pedestal, with a Latin inscription; it was erected at the expense of the late William Jolliffe, Esq., and was removed to its present site from the New Way about the year 1815. Here is a workhouse. A court leet is held in the Town-hall annually, on the second Monday in Epiphany. There are several charities for the relief of the poor. On the heath are bar rows.
SHEET is a tithing, 1 mile north-east, with 1,540 acres and 453 inhabitants ; Addes, 2 miles north-east; Horn and Heath Farms, 1 mile cast; Heath House, half a mile south ; Stroud Common and Steep Common, 2 miles west; Rothercombe and Winters, l 1/2 miles north-west; Steep, 2 miles north-west; Ashford, 2 miles north.