[4] Goldsmith's Farm and Fratton Common were part of the original small rural village originally called Froddington, the only visible evidence of this being the presence of a public house, "The Froddington Arms" on the western side of Fratton Road.

Froddington was one of the three small settlements on Portsea Island mentioned in the Domesday Book.

In the UK Parliament, Fratton is represented as part of the Portsmouth South constituency.

Since 2017, Stephen Morgan of the Labour Party has been the member of parliament for Portsmouth South.

It was formed for the 2002 Portsmouth City Council election as the successor to the pre-2002 Fratton ward.