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 store. The family moved to 41, French Street and his father ran a boarding school. As a non-conformist the elder Watts had been imprisoned. Isaac was seen as such a talented young man that some locals included Dr John Speed offered to pay his University fees but non conformists were not allowed to attend. He was therefore educated at a non-conformist college in Stoke Newington, North London. He had poor health but embarked on a preaching career in 1698. Apart from preaching, writing books on logic and poetry he is best remembered today as a prolific hymn writer. He wrote over 500 hymns and many will be found in Hymns Ancient and Modern and the Methodist Hymn Book. ‘Oh God our Help in Ages Past’ is still played from the Civic Centre clock tower three times each day. One of his favourite hymns was “There is a place of Pure Delight” the inspiration for which came from the view that he would enjoy looking across the river Test to the new Forest from the town walls. His school was King Edward VI and a house is still named after him. The statue to him in Watts (West) Park was unveiled on his birthday 17th July by the Earl of Shaftesbury in 1861
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 England fencing as a female named Mademoiselle de Beaumont. The Southampton contest sadly ended in her sustaining serious injury. Poverty resulted and she then lived as a woman with another woman in London. On her death in 1810 all gender ambiguity was removed as he was declared to be a man.
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 a tunnel to hide the road from the air. Many of those trees were lost to the Dutch Elm outbreak in the 1970’s. The Mulberry Harbour which played a pivotal part in Operation Overlord was built here in Southampton. In the King George V Graving Dock some of the outer protecting bombardons were assembled. The whole unit was towed by some 200 tugs to Arramanches where some parts still remain. The Pipe Line Under The Ocean (P.L.U.T.O.) was also constructed in Southampton. It provided a supply of oil to our forces. The team of engineers responsible was based in the bombed out Spitfire works in Woolston. Opposite the Arcades on the Western Esplanade you can find a very ordinary looking piece of brick wall. At a closer look it is full of graffiti. It is said that while waiting to embark for the Invasion D-Day, American service personnel stationed in Southampton, scratched their names into the brick work.
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 took back fine fleeces. The volume of trade meant some Italians settled here. The Florentines adopted St. John’s church and the Venetians St. Nicholas’s chapel which stood somewhere near St. Mary’s. The Genoese used the Friary near Gods House. A Venetian, Gabriel Corbet became Sheriff in 1453 and a Florentine, Christoforo Ambruogi became Mayor twice. However, in the early 1500’s Italy had a period of internal conflict and trade declined.