Zodiac
Zodiac The Eastern Docks foundation stone was laid on the 12th October 1838. A column, just inside No8 Gate, was unveiled by the Chair of the Southern Railway Company to mark the centenary in 1938. A large bronze globe at its top has the signs of the zodiac around the Equator.
Yacht Clubs
Yacht Clubs Southampton Yacht Club was formed in 1839, it soon attracted Royal patronage and added the Royal to its name. The headquarters at the bottom of Bugle Street were built in 1846. Its Commodore in 1858 was the Earl of Cardigan of Crimean War fame. The building was once used by Southampton University but […]
X Marks the spot – outside Holyrood
X Marks the spot – outside Holyrood Outside Holyrood Church is a brass cross embedded in the pavement.There are two stories connected to this. The first is that it marks the spot where King Philip of Spain knelt down to pray and thank God that he survived the sea crossing from Spain on his way […]
Warrior War Horse
Warrior War Horse Horses returning from WW1 were sold off. In 1919 Hilda Moore contacted the Mayor, Sidney Kimber, offering to buy a horse for the town. A chosen horse, a large white gelding, was handed over to the local Police. It had been in France since 1914, took part in many actions, and had […]
Watergate
Watergate The Watergate was built by 1377, after the French Raid of 1338, to strengthen Southampton’s southern defences. It was equivalent to the Bargate. In 1403 it was leased to William Revanstone, an ex Mayor, on condition he repaired the tower and gate. His rent was nominal – one red rose payable on 24th June, […]
Water Supply
Water Supply A group of Franciscan Friars arrived in Southampton in 1229. They believed in working with the poor and those in need and set up a Friary near where the Gloucester Square car park, off the lower end of the High Street, now stands. They needed a fresh water supply and were given a […]
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts Isaac Watts was born in Southampton to a non-conformist family in 1674. His mother was Sarah Taunton the daughter of a Huguenot family and Isaac was the cousin of Richard Taunton who founded a school in Southampton. The site of the house is remembered in a plaque at the rear of the Primark […]
The Weigh House
The Weigh House The Weigh House was built in French Street in the middle of the 1200s. The Weigh House once housed a valuable piece of equipment, which was the town’s weigh beam, also known as the Tron. It had a very important function when trading in Southampton was at its peak. It was used […]
The Duke of Wellington
The Duke of Wellington The Duke of Wellington pub in Bugle Street is built on 12th century vaults. Benedict Ace, one of Southampton’s first recorded Mayors in 1237, was an early owner. It was damaged in the French Raid of 1338. A timber frame building was erected in the late 1400s when it probably became […]
Workhouse
Workhouse Southampton’s first workhouse was “a house of twelve rooms for the habitation of poor people” built following a bequest in 1629 from a man by the name of John Major. This poor house was eventually transferred to a site in French Street which later became the location of St John’s Hospital. It is marked […]
Wool House
The Wool House In the Middle Ages Southampton was already a busy international trading port. The Wool House was probably built in the late 13th century. According to some sources, the Wool House was built by the orders of the monks at Beaulieu for use as a secure wool store. It is also said the […]
Walter Taylor
Walter Taylor Southampton’s Walter Taylor (1734–1803) famously supplied wooden rigging blocks to the Royal Navy, greatly improving their quality via a series of technological innovations. His work has been noted as a significant step forward in the Industrial Revolution, and as a major aid in Nelson’s sea victories during the Napoleonic Wars. Taylor had served […]
William Soper
William Soper William Soper was born in c 1390 and is most famous for his role in overseeing the build up of the English Navy in Southampton during the Hundred Years War conflict with France. Using Watergate Quay, and the nearby ‘Canute’s Palace’ as a storehouse, Soper first rebuilt a Spanish ship in 1414 – […]
William Cantelo
William Cantelo Back to A-Z index A real Victorian mystery! William Cantelo (born 1839) was from a family of Isle of Wight gunsmiths. He had a Northam engineering yard of 40 people. He also had a French Street shop, the Old Tower Inn pub by Arundel Tower and was a good musician, holding band practices […]
Vikings
Vikings Viking raids on Southampton during the 8th and 9th centuries disrupted trade with the continent and partly led contributed to the re-organization of the wider Kingdom of Wessex. Important industries that were previously well established in Hamwic but were susceptible to sea-borne invaders were withdrawn further inland to Winchester, whilst a new walled settlement […]
Voltaire
Voltaire As a young man the French writer François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, was imprisoned in the Bastille in Paris. He thought he would never escape, so he persuaded the French officials that if released he would go into exile in England. This was agreed and for nearly three years from 1726 he lived […]
Undercroft
Undercroft Southampton has many medieval undercroft or wine vaults. Estimates vary from 48 up to 60. One fine example that is accessible on See Southampton Guided Walks is 94, High Street. It is a beautiful barrel vault constructed about 1320.It may have once been a shop. Along with others this vault was used as an […]
Tides
Tides Southampton has a famous “double tide” with each tide rising for up to 7 hours, followed by an ebb tide of less than 4 hours. This provides Southampton with up to 17 hours of rising water every day, which is ideal for the shipping industry. A “young flood stand” of some two hours occurs […]
Tudor House
Tudor House This is one of Southampton’s major museums. Built on the site of medieval vaults, the main structure dates from 1510-18. It was developed by Sir John Dawtry who was M.P. for Southampton in 1495 and Sheriff of Hampshire in 1516. Richard Lyster, Lord Chief Justice of England 1546-1552 lived here. The Gardens contain […]
Matt Le Tissier
Matt Le Tissier Matt Le Tissier was born in Guernsey in 1968 and played his entire professional career for Southampton FC. He was and still is a fans’ favourite. He scored 164 goals in 443 games and made 8 England appearances. He scored 47 out of 48 penalty kicks. He scored the last goal in […]
Titanic
RMS Titanic RMS Titanic and her ill-fated maiden voyage have captured the imagination of people all around the world. Titanic was operated by the White Star Line and was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. She measured 269 m (about 882 feet) in length, with a beam of 28 m (92 feet) […]
Star Hotel
The Star Hotel The Star Hotel is built on medieval foundations and was used as an Inn by the 1600’s. The present facade dates from the late 1700’s and due refurbishment in 2015. The Star was a popular coaching Inn with regular services reaching London in 10 hours. In 1831 the future Queen Victoria stayed […]
Stella Memorial
Stella Memorial The Stella Memorial was erected at the Western Esplanade in 1901 in memory of Mary Anne Rogers. She was a senior stewardess who selflessly gave her life in the sinking of the passenger steamship “Stella” on Maundy Thursday, 30th March 1899. The Memorial, known as the Stella Memorial, is built from Portland stone […]
Stoneham Church (one hand clock)
Stoneham Church (one hand clock) Stoneham Church (one hand clock) is just outside the city boundary. It is dedicated to St. Nicholas the Patron Saint of seamen and is famous for its unusual one hand clock. This reminds us that time was once only measured in hours and it dates from the 1400’s. The church […]
South Western Hotel
South Western Hotel The railway arrived in 1840 and the South Western Hotel (now flats) soon followed. Designed with a strong French influence it was originally named the Imperial when opened in 1867. Many of the rich passengers of the Titanic stayed there. In fact that ship’s staircase is said to be a copy of […]
St Mary’s Church
St Mary’s Church Southampton’s Mother church, St Mary’s (the original dating from 634 AD) is situated outside the later Norman town, in the earlier Saxon settlement of Hamwih. The present church is the sixth on the site. In the 1550’s the rubble of St. Mary’s was being used to mend roads as most people had […]
South Western House
South Western House The railway arrived in Southampton in 1840 and work began on the construction of the South Western House Hotel in 1865. Designed with a strong French influence it was originally named the Imperial when it opened in 1867. Many of the rich passengers travelling first class on the Titanic stayed there. In […]
Southampton Castle
Southampton Castle Back to A-Z index Only very little remains visible of the once splendid Southampton Castle today. It was first constructed in the late 11th century after the Norman conquest of England on rising ground in the north-west corner of the town, overlooking the mouth of the River Test. It was constructed as a […]
Railway Terminus Station
Railway Terminus Station Stagecoach travel was very popular in the early 19th century. However, it slowly declined with the coming of railways. The London and South Western Railway arrived with the line reaching the newly opened Terminus Station in 1840. It was designed by Sir William Tite and was busy with the Atlantic passenger trade. […]
The Red Lion
The Red Lion The Red Lion pub started life as a medieval merchant’s house and still retains its 14th century vaults. The central area is a 15th century open hall called Henry V’s Court Room. In his play, Shakespeare sets the 1415 trial of the conspirators against Henry V here but it is more likely […]
Romans
Romans In A.D. 43 the Emperor Claudius set out to conquer Britain. A legion commanded by Vespasian moved west from Kent and soon the port of Clausentum was established. Some scant remains can still be found in the Bitterne Manor area. Traces of Roman roads to Winchester and Chichester have been discovered as has an […]
Rosas
Rosas General Rosas was born in Buenos Aires in 1793. In 1810 independence was declared from Spanish rule and the name Argentina was first used in 1826. Rosas was Governor of Buenos Aires from 1829-31 and again in 1835.Whoever controlled the capital in effect controlled the nation. He offered to renounce all claims to the […]
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia Back to A-Z index The RMS Carpathia was a steamship built in Newcastle upon Tyne by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson. She made her maiden voyage from Liverpool in 1903 and ran the Cunard service from New York to a number of the Mediterranean ports. The Carpathia was sailing from New York on […]
Quaker Cemetery
Quaker Cemetery Back to A-Z index The Society of Friends was formed by George Fox circa 1647. At meetings participants were often said to quake with emotion before the Lord. They came to Southampton by 1655 and in 1662 Fox visited the town to support 22 imprisoned Quakers. He came again in 1668 and 1680 […]
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria As a young Princess, Victoria stayed at the Star Inn in 1831.On 8th July 1833 she formally opened the Royal Pier, accompanied by her mother, the Duchess of Kent. Queen Victoria loved the south coast, especially after her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. Five years later they started to build (1845-1851) Osborne […]
Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park Viscount Palmerston was born at Broadlands, Romsey in 1784. He became a popular Foreign Secretary and later in 1855 Prime Minister. He was a burgess of Southampton and on his death in 1865 a memorial committee was set up to collect money from the public. A statue was unveiled in 1869 in what […]
Polymond Tower
Polymond Tower This largely hidden tower in the north east corner of the Norman town dates from the early 1200’s. It was originally owned and maintained by St. Deny’s Priory as a 28 foot high three-storey structure but fell into disrepair. Nine times Mayor, John Polymond re-built the tower in the 1360’s. However, records from […]
Old Bonded Warehouse
Old Bonded Warehouse The Old Bonded Warehouse was outside the Town Walls before 1795. It was clearly designed with a planned canal in mind. Originally a flight of steps ran down from the building to the proposed canal with a recess in which barges could be loaded. The canal scheme collapsed in 1808. Why the […]
Old Farm House
Old Farm House Until, the 1850’s the Old Farm House pub stood in open fields, the land originally belonged to St. Denys Priory. A brick records the date of the present building as 1611. It is thought Oliver Cromwell and/or his son Richard stayed there. Richard had married Dorothy Major a grand-daughter of a former […]
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey The link between the Ordnance Survey and Southampton goes back to 1841. It was formed in 1791 to carry out a military survey of England and based in the Tower of London. In October 1841 a devastating fire led to the Survey moving to military premises in Southampton at the junction of the […]
Northam Bridge
Northam Bridge In 1796, David Lance held a meeting to propose a bridge over the Itchen to take stage coaches to Portsmouth. By 1799 a timber toll bridge was completed. The wooden bridge was replaced in 1889 by an iron bridge and tolls ended in 1929 when the town acquired it. The local council rebuilt […]
R. J. Mitchell
R. J. Mitchell R.J. Mitchell was born in Stoke-on -Trent in 1895. In 1913 Noel Pemberton Billing set up Pemberton-Billing Ltd to produce sea going planes. Its telegraphic address was Supermarine Southampton and this was used for sending telegrams and cables to the firm. The company was located in Woolston and Mitchell joined in 1916, […]
Mayflower
Mayflower There is a great deal of controversy concerning the actual departure point of the Mayflower and the Pilgrim Fathers from England for America. Several cities claim ownership, not least, Southampton. In actual fact there were several departure points as well as stops along the way. Southampton was the place the disparate groups of pilgrims […]
Lammas Lands
Lammas Lands Our central parks (Watts, Andrews, Houndwell, Hoglands, Palmerston and Queen’s) were once Lammas Lands. They were fields owned by the heriditary burgesses from Candlemas (2nd February) to Lammas Day (1st August). They were divided into strips for growing foodstuffs. After 1st August the fences were removed and the land used for animal pasture. […]
Long House
Long House In Porters Lane, situated near the Town Quay, are the remains of a Norman building about 111 feet long. It is a great example of early Medieval or “Norman” architecture. As the tax was based on the front of the houses, the buildings were usually narrow and long. Long House is also known […]
La Sainte Union
La Sainte Union After the French revolution Catholic education was limited by the state. In 1826 the order of La Sainte Union de Sacre Coeurs was founded to promote catholic education in France. In 1829 the attitude to Catholics in England was easing with the Catholic Emancipation Act. In 1830 the first Catholic church in […]
Richard Lyster
Richard Lyster Sir Richard Lyster was Judge and the Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of Henry VIII and Chief Baron of the King’s Exchequer from 1546-1552. He married Isabel, the widow of Sir John Dawtrey (collector of customs under Henry VII) and lived with her in the building which is now known […]
lucia Foster Welch
lucia Foster Welch Lucia Foster Welch was born in Liverpool in 1864 and moved to Southampton in 1903. She lived at 61 Oxford Street, in a seven bedroom semi-detached residence – now grade II listed. In 1927, Lucia was elected and became Southampton’s mayor. Lucia Foster Welch was, in fact, Southampton’s first Lady Mayor, first […]
Sidney Guy Kimber
Sidney Guy Kimber Sidney Guy Kimber was born in Southampton in 1873 on 5th November hence his middle name. He was educated at King Edward VI grammar school and took over the family brick business in 1900. In 1910 he was elected as a Conservative councillor and was influential in local politics for many years. […]
King John’s Palace
King John’s Palace The house is called King John’s Palace as historians mistakenly believed that King John stayed in it during the early 1300s, however, there is no evidence for it. Wealthy Norman merchants built their houses on the western shore of the town.Around the 1180s, when the original house was built, Southampton was already […]
King George V Graving Dock
King George V Graving Dock King George V Graving Dock, is a former dry dock situated in Southampton’s Western Docks. It was also known as No. 7 Dry Dock. It was designed by F.E. Wentworth-Shields and constructed by John Mowlem & Company and Edmund Nuttall Sons & Company. It was formally opened by HM King […]
Jack’s Corner
Jack’s Corner This children’s play area at the corner of the Sports Centre is in memory of Jack Mantle (1917-1940). He was educated at Taunton’s School before joining the Royal Navy. In 1940 he was in charge of the gun ship Foylebank in Portland Harbour when German aircraft attacked on 4th July. He was badly […]
Jesus Chapel – Pear Tree
Jesus Chapel – Pear Tree St. Mary’s Church once served the population on the east side of the River Itchen, known as St. Mary’s Extra. Jesus Chapel is a picturesque Church on Pear Tree Green. The Chapel, dedicated to Jesus, became the first new church in England following the Reformation. Pear Tree Chapel is believed […]
John Jellicoe
John Jellicoe John Jellicoe was born in Southampton in 1859 in Cranbury Terrace. He was educated at Bannister Court and joined the Navy at 12. He became a Captain in 1897 and was wounded near Peking during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. He became Commander of the Grand Fleet in 1914 and engaged with the […]
Jane Austen
Jane Austen Back to A-Z index Jane Austen was an English novelist whose books, set among the English middle and upper classes, are notable for their wit, social observation and acute insights into the lives of early 19th century women. She was born on 16 December 1775 in the village of Steventon in Hampshire. Jane […]
Imposter – Chevalier D’Eon
Imposter – Chevalier D’Eon In 1796 at the height of Southampton’s Spa period a sword fencing match took place. The main attraction was the Chevalier d’Eon born in 1728 in France as a male. He had been a diplomat and a spy and sometimes dressed as a female. Fleeing the French revolution s/he came to […]
Invasion – D Day
Invasion – D Day Southampton had a vital role in the WWII D Day preparations with two thirds of the initial British Assault Force leaving from here. Southampton became Military Area C with the town, in effect, sealed off to civilians. The trees on either side of the Avenue were allowed to grow over forming […]
Italians
Italians English wool was in great demand in Europe by the late 1200’s, especially in Northern Italy. The Italians sent ships directly to England from 1305. The great galleys from Florence and Venice brought prosperity to the town. The Venetians sent a yearly fleet with spices, wines, glass, silk, dates, olive oil and ivory and […]
Hamwih / Hamwic / Hamtun / Hamwith / Hamtune
Hamwih / Hamwic / Hamtun / Hamwith / Hamtune All these are variants of names given to pre Norman Conquest Southampton. Unusually, the Roman, Saxon and Norman towns were on different sites. Hamwih was founded circa 690 by Ina, King of the West Saxons, whose capital was Winchester. The Vikings raided Hamwih in 840 and […]
Holyrood Church
Holyrood Church The Holyrood church was badly bombed in 1940 and its shell now remains as a memorial to the dead of the Merchant Navy. The original 12th century church stood further out into the High Street. It was dismantled and moved back in 1320 to its present site. The Crusaders and men leaving for […]
Henry Yevele
Henry Yevele Henry Yevele was a master stone mason and architect born around 1320 probably in Derbyshire. He had a brother Robert who was also a stone mason. Edward III appointed Yevele as the Master Mason in charge of work done to the Bloody Tower at the Tower of London and also for work done […]
Henri De Portal
Henri De Portal After reading this entry, every time you handle a banknote you will remember Southampton and Henri de Portal. Henri de Portal was born in 1690 at Poitiers in France into a Huguenot family. The Huguenots were French protestants who were inspired by the writings of John Calvin. The term Huguenot was originally […]
Gas Column
Gas Column In 1819 a gas company was founded in Northam. In 1820 William Chamberlayne MP presented the town with all the gas lighting columns it required. In 1823 he was Chair of a group of shareholders who bought the gas company. The town erected the Gas Column to thank him. It was at Town […]
Gordon of Khartoum
Gordon of Khartoum General Gordon was born in London. He served in the Crimea in 1855 but made his name in China with a British expeditionary force that fought its way to Peking. He was Governor of the Sudan from 1873 to 1880 and went back in 1884 to put down a revolt led by […]
General Shrapnel
General Shrapnel Major General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842) died at Pear Tree House in Southampton having been born in Bradford on Avon. He devoted himself to military inventions often spending his own money to do so. The shell that bears his name was recommended for use by the Army Board of Ordnance in 1803. The Duke […]
George Thomas
George Thomas – The man who built The Dell On the afternoon of Saturday 19 October 1907, from the comfort of a bath-chair placed near the touchline of the football ground he built and owned George Thomas, former director of Southampton and Chelsea football clubs, watched Saints defeat Brentford 3-0 in a Southern League game […]
Football – The Saints
Football – The Saints Southampton F.C. can trace their roots back to 1885. The nickname ‘Saints’ comes from its formation as a church football team. They were founded as St Mary’s Church of England Young Men’s Association (St Mary’s Y.M.A). The team has since played in red and white shirts. Away colours are blue or […]
French Raid
French Raid In 1337 the Hundred Years War with France began. On 4th October 1338, 50 ships of French, Genoese and Sicilians arrived. As the South and West of the town was not walled they landed around the bottom of Bugle Street. The town and its silver were looted and those citizens who took refuge […]
Friary
Friary In about 1224 a group of Friars Minor who followed the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi came to the town.The Franciscan Friars were also called Greyfriars because of the colour of their robes. They lived a humble life. They settled in the poorer part of the town near God’s house hospice. When completed […]
Edward the Black Prince
Edward the Black Prince Edward was the son of Edward III. Both were in Southampton in 1346 on route to fight the French at Crecy. The Prince died in 1376 and Prince Edward Tower was built around 1400. It is also known as Catchcold Tower and is an early example of a tower with keyhole […]
Empire Flying Boats
Empire Flying Boats In 1923 the British Marine Air Navigation Company was formed with its base at Woolston. In 1924 the company was amalgamated into Imperial Airways which was government backed. Empire Flying Boats had their base in Southampton till 1929. In 1935 activity began again, this time with a base at Hythe. The government […]
English Street
English Street Following the Norman Conquest of 1066 the town was split into distinct parts. The Normans took the desirable West with their houses fronting the water. The conquered Saxons had the East side of town. This division was shown in the use of French Street and English Street as road names. The latter is […]
Charles Dibden
Charles Dibden Born in 1745 and baptised in Holy Rood, Charles Dibden was a choirboy at Winchester Cathedral he then worked in a London music shop. He wrote sea songs and was well known in Georgian England. His shanties were used as an aid to recruitment in the Napoleonic Wars. He is misquoted for saying […]
Disease
Disease Southampton’s leprosy hospital dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene (said to have changed into Marlands) was situated near the present Civic Centre. Leprosy died out in this country and our last warden of the hospital was pensioned off in the 1420’s. There is information about leprosy on the corner of Watt’s Park opposite the James […]
Dolphin Hotel
Dolphin Hotel The original building dates from the early 1400’s and its cellars are medieval vaults. During the late 18th century Southampton became a popular spa town. The Dolphin was rebuilt in 1775 to accommodate more visitors. Its bay windows are said to have been the largest in England at that time. Jane Austen lived […]
Dock Strike of 1890
Dock Strike of 1890 In September 1890 dock workers in Southampton were on strike seeking agreement for union labour only to be employed in the docks and for agreement on wages. Their demands were not met and they had to concede and return to work only to find that the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co […]
Cannibalism (Richard Parker)
Cannibalism (Richard Parker) Back to A-Z index In 1884 the ship Mignonette was fitted out in Southampton for a journey to Australia. There were 4 crew members including 17 year old orphan Richard Parker from Peartree. On July 4th the Mignonette was hit by a terrible storm south east of Trinidad. The four crew members […]
Old Cemetery
Old Cemetery Back to A-Z index In 1843 an Act of Parliament was passed enabling a cemetery to be opened on Southampton Common. It was consecrated in 1846. Amongst its graves is that of Lt. Col. Hewwitt, the last surviving officer to have fought at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. He died in 1891 […]
Clock Tower
Clock Tower Back to A-Z index This originally stood at the junction of Above Bar and New Road, having been bequeathed to the town by Henrietta Sayers. It also acted as a drinking fountain for humans and horses. In 1934 it was moved to Bitterne Triangle where it remains to this day.
Christopher Cockerell
Christopher Cockerell Back to A-Z index Sir Christopher Cockerell (1910-1999), the inventor of the Hovercraft, lived in East Cowes and then in Hythe for many years. His house in Prospect Place looking out over the water is still owned by the Cockerell family today. Close by used to be the marine institute, where hovercraft models […]
Cross House
Cross House Back to A-Z index Before the Itchen Bridge opened in June 1977 passengers used the Floating Bridge (a cable ferry that crossed the river Itchen between Woolston and Southampton). The Floating Bridge came into service in November 1836. Before then there was a ferry boat service. The Cross House, to give passengers shelter […]
Herbert Collins
Herbert Collins Back to A-Z index Herbert Collins (1885-1975) designed houses in Southampton from 1922, and co-founded the Swaythling Housing Society in 1925. Collins, along with his co-founders, accountant and civic leader Fred Woolley (the society’s first chairman) and Bursledon brickworks director Claude Ashby, put up £200 worth of shares. Collins lived at 38 Brookvale […]
Castle Vault
Castle Vault Back to A-Z index Southampton owns the largest number of purpose built vaults in the whole of Britain. Most of these vaults started out as wine cellars. Some date back as far as the 12th Century. Castle Vault is the biggest vault in Southampton. It was built during the second half of the […]
Bevois Valley
Bevois Valley Back to A-Z index An area of the city that takes its name from the story of Sir Bevois. A published story from 1502 ‘The Romance of Sir Bevois of Hamtun’ tells of Bevois,the son of Guy, Earl of Southampton, being sold by his evil stepmother ending up in Armenia. He escaped and […]
Blue Anchor Lane
Blue Anchor Lane Back to A-Z index During the 1300s this ancient lane was known as Wytegod’s Lane after John Wytegod, a wealthy merchant and Mayor. He owned Tudor House and the property to the south side (now known as King John’s Palace) as well as other properties nearby. In the late medieval period the […]
Boundary Stones
Boundary Stones Back to A-Z index The Burgesses controlled an area enclosed by Hill Lane, Burgess Street (now Road) and the land west of the Itchen. Several boundary stones survive for example, the Rosemary Stone opposite No 47 Burgess Road. Another, called the Hode Stone, is at the top of Hill Lane.
Bargate
Bargate Back to A-Z index If you were standing outside the Bargate on 16th January 1434, you would be in the middle of the noise and the bustle of preparations for a great feast. It was to be held in the Guild Hall upstairs in the Bargate, by the guild of merchants. All the details […]
Philip Brannon
Philip Brannon Back to A-Z index Philip Brannon will always be associated with Southampton for his well known engravings and panoramas of the town as well as for his informative and highly collectable book ” The Picture of Southampton” published in 1850. Philip was born on 27th July, 1817 at Wootton on the Isle of […]
The Bramble Bank
The Bramble Bank Back to A-Z index The Bramble Bank, otherwise known simply as ‘The Brambles’ is an arrowhead-shaped sandbar in the central Solent which is uncovered at low water spring tides. It presents a significant navigational hazard for shipping in the area. It is marked at its southeastern limit by the Brambles post sea […]
Air Raids
Air Raids Back to A-Z index Being the home of the Spitfire, Southampton was a target for German bombers. The first bomb fell on 19th June 1940 and the last, a Doodlebug, on 15th July 1944. 2,631 high explosive bombs and 30, 652 incendiary bombs were recorded. There were about 60 raids killing 631. There […]
Richard Andrews
Richard Andrews Back to A-Z index Richard Andrews has been called Southampton’s Dick Whittington. In 1821 he walked 20 miles from his home in Bishops Sutton and rapidly built up a coach building business in Above Bar. A Liberal, he was Mayor five times during the 1850’s. Richard Andrews died in 1859 and his statue […]
Artesian Well
Artesian Well Back to A-Z index As Southampton grew in the 19th century there was a demand for water. The reservoirs on the Common were inadequate despite well being sunk to 1,260 feet and finally abandoned in 1883. Attention then turned to tapping the Itchen at Mansbridge but this was impure. Finally, the Southampton Waterworks […]
Arcades
Arcades Back to A-Z index Following the French Raid of 1338 the strengthening of the town’s defence system was ordered by King Edward III. The town was to be fully enclosed by stone walls, especially along the western quays, where wealthy merchants had built their houses. Due to a shortage of suitable stones, a compromise […]