A settlement made at the crossing of tracks from the Downs to the coast and another along the coast.
Known as Hamafunta - 935AD - Spring of Hama, which refers to a spring southwest of St Faith's Church.
By 1086 it was a village of approx 100 people called Haveunte. It was destroyed in 1760 by fire, leaving only the church and adjacent 17thc cottages, now known as 'Old House at Home', used as a pub. It is claimed that the lounge bar main beams were recovered from the Spanish Armada, and that the 'Bear Post' within once had the last dancing bear in England tethered to it.
The 1760 fire allowed wide roads with easier passage of stagecoaches through the town, the Bear Hotel and Dolphin Hotel being notable inns. In the early hours of 25 October 1784 Havant suffered an earthquake, & another 30 November 1811. - see here
 

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