town and borough (district), county of Hampshire, England, at the head of a creek opening into the northwestern corner of Portsmouth Harbour. The district embraces the market town of Fareham and several outlying historic localities. These include Portchester, which was the site of extensive Saxon occupation, a Roman fortress, and a castle built in 1160–72 by Henry II; and Titchfield, with its part-Saxon church and the remains of a 13th-century abbey.

Fareham was known as Fernham in Domesday Book, in which it is mentioned as subject to reduced assessment because of its exposed position and its liability to Danish attacks. It formed part of the original endowment of the see of Winchester. In medieval times it was a free port with considerable trade in wine and wool. A fair was established under grant of Henry III, and in the 18th century it was principally known for the sale of toys; the fair was abolished in 1871.

Fareham's modern trade is in grain, timber, and coal, and its principal industries are boatbuilding and light engineering. Area, borough, 29 square miles (74 square km). Pop. (2001) town (with Portchester), 56,160; borough, 107,969.