Petersfield, market town, par., and township with ry. sta., Hants, 20 miles NE. of Portsmouth - par., 1820 ac., pop. 2294; township, 237 ac., pop. 1646; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Wednesday. Petersfield is an ancient town, with claim to be ranked as a prescriptive incorporation chartered by King John. The chief feature of the town is its Norman church of the 12th century. There is an endowed school or college. Fairs for cattle, sheep, and horses are held here in July and October, and there is a sheep fair in December. Petersfield returned 1 member to Parliament until 1885.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))