Pittswith

Pittswith is a fictional town and civil parish in the county of Northmere, within the nation of Veridia. It is situated on the banks of the River Nithe, with fertile farmland to the east and woodland to the west. The town serves as a local center for surrounding villages and maintains a small market on Wednesdays.

The name Pittswith derives from Old English pitt meaning pit or hollow, and a suffix referring to a ford or boundary, indicating an early crossing near a pit or hollow. The earliest forms of the name include Pittwythe and Pittwithe.

Pittswith appears in records from the 12th century. It gained a market charter in 1276, enabling weekly markets that boosted trade. The construction of the Veridian Main Line in the 1850s linked Pittswith to larger towns, fostering growth.

Today, the economy relies on agriculture, light manufacturing, and services. The town center features Market Square, a 17th-century town hall, and a mix of independent shops. Notable landmarks include Pittswith Hall, a red-brick manor dating to the 17th century, and St. Mary's Church, with a timber-framed nave. The Old Mill and the nearby Weir are popular with visitors.

Pittswith is governed by a town council within the Northmere District. It has a primary school and a secondary school, plus a community college nearby. The population was about 7,800 in 2021.