At the heart of Havant’s evolution is the high quality fresh water flowing from local chalk streams.
‘Haman Funta’ is the Saxon spelling for Havant, and means ‘Hama’s Spring’. Hama was a legendary hero of the Goths referred to in the Epic of Beowolf.
Did You Know?
Havant’s original name is also referenced in the town’s coat of arms, which features two Saxon warriors with hammers, a punning allusion to Hama!
The crystal-clear water from this artesian spring was central to the settlement’s origin and prosperity from Roman times onward.
The Homewell Spring is the only Havant spring still visible today, and it can be seen in the town centre near St Faith’s church.
The spring generates crystal clear water that was ideal for producing high-quality parchment, which became an important local industry.
Parchment was made from the skins of sheep, goats, or calves. It was used as a writing material instead of paper. The skins were soaked in the pure water, which made bright white parchment.
Paper replaced parchment eventually, as it was cheaper to make. Today only one works exists in the country and Havant’s Homewell parchment works is closed.
Did You Know?
Havant parchment was used for several important treaties, including the Treaty of Versailles. This was the peace signed on June 28, 1919, that formally ended WWI between Germany and the Allied Powers.
Although the last parchment yard closed in Havant in 1936 “The Parchment Makers”, a JD Wetherspoons pub in Park Road, is a reminder of this heritage.
There was also a malting industry in Havant, with the malt used to make beer. The old brewery added to the town’s appeal as a crossroads for thirsty travellers.
In the 16th and 17th century, Havant had a thriving wool industry, plus leather-making in the 16th to 18th centuries. Havant also had fellmongers, people who dealt in animal skins, and the town was also known for its leather glove-making industry.
Did You Know?
At the time of the Domesday Book (1086), Havant was a village with only about 100 people. It would seem tiny to us, but towns and villages were very small in those days.
Havant had two mills, which ground grain into flour to make bread for the villagers, with one mill southwest of the town and one near Langstone.
- Read more about Havant’s local history – click here
- Read about the Homewell Parchment works – click here
- Read about the brewing industry in Havant – click here
- Havant’s unusual coat of arms explained – click here
- Visit the Parchment Makers pub in Havant – click here