A TIMELINE OF PETERSFIELD HISTORY
By Tim Lambert
Early 12th Century The town of Petersfield is founded. The Earl of Gloucester starts a market by St Peters Church
1350 The main industry in Petersfield is wool. There is also a leather tanning industry. The little market town has a population of 600 or 700.
1600 The population of Petersfield rises to about 1,000
1666 Petersfield suffers an outbreak of plague. The wool trade is declining.
1687 Petersfield suffers an outbreak of smallpox. Stagecoaches are now running through Petersfield bringing prosperity to the town.
1722 Richard Churcher leaves money to found a school in Petersfield
1726 Daniel Defoe describes Petersfield as a town eminent for little but being full of good inns
1735 Some citizens get together to drain a bog so Petersfield Pond is created
1801 The little market town of Petersfield has a population of about 2,100
1812 A statue of William III is erected in The Square
1820 The Taro Fair begins in Petersfield
1836 A workhouse opens in Love Lane
1852 Petersfield gains gas street lighting
1858 A police station is built
1859 The railway reaches Petersfield
1871 A cottage hospital opens
1884 Sewers and drains are built in Petersfield
1893 Beadales School opens
1894 Petersfield Urban District Council is formed
1901 The population of Petersfield is nearly 4,000. The first Petersfield Festival of Music is held.
1911 The council buys Petersfield Pond and the Heath for public use
1936 A new Town Hall is built. Petersfield is growing very rapidly.
1945 High Meadow is donated to the town
1970 The population of Petersfield has risen to about 8,000
1976 Queen Elizabeth Country Park opens
1981 A new library opens. A new leisure centre opens.
1984 Petersfield Bear Museum opens
1989 The Physic Garden opens
1992 Petersfield by pass opens
1993 Petersfield is given a new logo. The Community Hospital opens. Rams Walk opens.
1999 A museum opens in St Peters Road