Pages covering info about Catisfield (Hampshire) ROADS and their evolution.

Note: This Catisfield History site has been compiled by Doug Glading.
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Doug Glading. Last update 9/11/2020

Roads Around Catisfield - and - their Evolution (v1)

THE ROAD EAST/WEST

At one time All the Traffic East and West. Went Through Catisfield.

· Imagine: all the traffic of the M27 plus Rail plus A27

Went up and down ‘Catisfield Hill ‘ ( Also Known As ‘Stoney Hill’ and Now as ‘Fishers Hill’ )

Nov 2020 – the ‘slalom’ on the (temporarily?) blocked Fishers Hill

The 1700’s Route

The way from Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth to and from Burlesdon, Bitterne, Woolston and Southampton -- from a 1791 Map by Milne.

The route from Fareham came past Blackbrook, over ‘Catisfield Common’ and bore slightly right at the Peak Lane junction (by Heathfield Manor – today’s ‘Oast & Squire’) onto Catisfield Road

Then into Catisfield, down Fishers Hill, left at the Abbey, past Titchfield Mill and into the village with a right turn by The Wheatsheaf.

Crossing The Meon

The monks built a bridge during the 14th century, which was probably made of stone piers and a wooden parapet (called Kettelbridge?).

Later a Bridge called Stony Bridge, (also Stoney Bridge, also Anjou Bridge) was built c. 1610 – today’s bridge still.

And Did Those Feet….

 Pepys -- April 1662 -- Samuel Pepys went from Portsmouth to Southampton and back (so probably traversed Fishers Hill)

 Bill Shakespeare – c. 1592 - As a tutor at Place House (Titchfield Abbey) the playwright must have walked around pondering his plots

Henry VI – in 1445 Henry VI & Margaret of Anjou are said to have gone down Fishers Hill, to Titchfield Abbey from Southwick, for reconfirmation there of their marriage in France

So although the bridge is known as ‘Anjou Bridge’ (even ‘Iron Duke Bridge’ !!) - this crossing was way before the current bridge was actually was built…..

[Of course Pepys was on a horse or maybe in a coach, and Henry in a posh carriage. ]

v:shapes="Picture_x0020_15">Then came The Avenue

1811 - On first of June the direct road from Heathfield /Peak Lane junction into Titchfield is said to have been opened.

The main road route as we know it today, from Peak Lane to Titchfield and on towards Southampton, was not fully constructed until about 1826.

The road down from the Catisfield Lane / Ranvilles Lane junction into Titchfield was also known as 'Catisfield Hill'. It went straight down into Titchfield, entering past the tanneries and the Wheatsheaf.

[The Titchfield and Cosham Turnpike Trust Act was published in 1810 for a distance of 7miles 2 furlings and 180 yards, with Toll Houses at Blackbrook, East Cams and Wymering. Opened in 1826. The act also enclosed Catisfield Common.]

[note: Catisfield Lane has appeared on some OS maps as just Catisfield Road ]

The Titchfield Bypass

(strictly speaking ‘The Titchfield Northern Bypass)

This forked right off the old road just west of the Catisfield Lane / Ranvilles Lane junction (ie just belpw 'The Mount' on the map), and ran down the hill and past Titchfield Mill

Highlands Road South

In 1967 the exit of Catisfield Lane onto The Avenue (A27) was closed. And Highlands Road extended south from its previous end, by Catisfield Cottage, onto the Avenue