The port was ideally suited for plying such trade due to its sheltered harbour, river access to Winchester and good overland roads along a chalk ridge to London. Such trade was hugely valuable to the King as a source of taxable revenue and accordingly Southampton Castle continued to be maintained to serve an administrative role. Additions were made to the castle to enable it to perform this function with a two storey house, known as Castle Hall, being added in the first half of the twelfth century of which the ground floor was used for bulk storage of goods.
Likewise a vault was added to the castle in The prosperity of the town led many of its merchants to contribute extensively to the ransom payment to release Richard I who had been imprisoned by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, on his return from the Third Crusade. The town's prosperity also led to the construction of the town defences with the Bargate being started in along with the curtain wall on the north and east sides.
This work was aided by King John who granted funds to "close the town" in A community of Franciscan friars settled in Southampton in The extensive trade that passed through Southampton led to modifications to the castle including the construction of Castle Hall left and the first phase of building on the Bargate right.
Southampton Castle was substantially rebuilt in the mid-thirteenth century. The Outer Bailey rampart was constructed in stone between and this included construction of the Castle East Gate which provided direct access into the town. The mottte, with its shell Keep, remained largely unaltered but a new garderobe, flushed by the tide, was added to the south-west tower.
The castle's chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas, was also first mentioned at this time although it is possible it had existed since the foundation of the fortification in the eleventh century. The town walls were also upgraded with the Bargate significantly enhanced and the curtain wall repaired.
Crucially though the west and south sides of the town remained poorly defended. On Sunday 4 October , whilst the populace of Southampton was at church, a fleet of French and Genoese pirates sailed up Southampton Water and attacked the town.
They landed on the west quay which had remained unfortified at the behest of the town's merchants who wanted easy and untaxed access to the waterfront. The citizens seem to have been caught completely by surprise with contemporary documents recording wide scale burning, looting and rape. Southampton Castle, which managed to secure its gates it time, survived the attack but it was clear the town itself needed new defences. When Edward III visited the following year, he ordered Southampton should be enclosed by a full defensive circuit of walls.
Work commenced immediately but progress was slow due to English success in the Hundreds Years War, which seemingly reduced the threat of a fresh attack, and labour shortages caused by the Black Death. Southampton Castle was rebuilt in the s as English fortunes during the Hundred Years War reached a low ebb.
The shell Keep on top of the motte was demolished and replaced with a new structure complete with three substantial towers which was surrounded by a new curtain wall. The castle's east and south gates were also rebuilt with a barbican being added to the latter.
The deteriorating security situation also increased the urgency of completing the work on the town walls and this was aided by the appointment of Sir John Arundel in who vigorously drove progress. The West Gate and waterfront arcades, which finally protected the town from an attack landing on the West Quay, were built at this time as were the southern defences including the Watergate.
The French raid of led eventually to substantial new defences on the western side of the town. The arcades left closed off access to West Quay other than through the newly built West Gate right. The early fifteenth century saw substantial modifications made to the castle and town to support the installation of artillery.
The arrow slits on most of the existing towers along the town wall were converted into gun ports and Castle Hall was also modified to take guns. Catchcold Tower was constructed specifically to augment the artillery defences and the south-east postern gate was rebuilt into an artillery blockhouse known as God's House Tower. These upgrades would have been completed by the time Henry V's army mustered in the town ready for deployment to France for the campaign that would culminate in the Battle of Agincourt That King sent three conspirators who had allegedly attempted to assassinate him to the town for trial and execution - Richard of Conisbrough, Henry Scrope and Sir Thomas Grey were beheaded in vicinity of the Bargate.
The artillery defences included purpose built structures in the form of Catchcold Tower and God's House Tower. Many of the other towers were also modified to support heavy guns. The impressive expenditure on the town's defences left Southampton Castle marginalised and by the early fifteenth century it was in decline. A report of stated the castle walls were "decayed" and in the Outer Bailey wall was partly demolished to provide stone for constructing the Town Quay.
The Keep however remained intact and hosted visits by Elizabeth I in and The castle site was sold by the Crown in with its subsequent owners stripping its fabric for other projects including repairs to the town walls. The castle survived as a ruin until when it was rebuilt into a Gothic style mansion by John Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquis of Lansdowne. Such historical vandalism was common amongst the aristocracy at this time and an indication of what the castle may have looked like can be seen at Stafford Castle which was rebuilt in a similar style around the same time.
The new structure at Southampton though proved unsuited as a residence and was abandoned within fifteen years of it being built. The entire structure was then demolished leaving just the fragments seen today. The end of the Hundred Years War, with the associated loss of all continental possessions, saw Southampton decline whilst military functions and Royal expenditure started to be diverted to the naval dockyard at Portsmouth.
By the mid-eighteenth century Southampton re-invented itself as a Spa town and was home to Jane Austin for a number of a years. However, its port was revitalised by the arrival of the railway in along with substantial dry dock facilities.
The town once more became a thriving hub of international trade as well as becoming the lead British port for the cruise liner industry.
Furthermore the twentieth century saw numerous aviation companies move to the town particularly with the emerging seaplane market.
Southampton became a city in Butler, M Cottrell, P. R Archaeological desk-based assessment of Bitterne Manor Park, Southampton.
Southampton Archaeology Unit, Southampton. Creighton, O. H A short distance from Southampton City centre is Paultons Park home of Peppa Pig World, a theme park for families with more than 60 wonderful rides and attractions. Accommodation in Southampton Alcantara Guest House is a family run guest house offering well maintained, quality accommodation. What's on? Southampton events guide The Spitfire, the famous fighter plane, was designed and developed in Southampton. Book Tickets.
What's Nearby. Eating Out. Based at the heart of Southampton, SeaCity Museum tells the story of the people of the…. O2 Guildhall Southampton is the South's largest multipurpose entertainment venue.
Locked In A Room offers large scale escapism for all sized parties, making us perfect for…. They introduced the manufacture of serge cloth into England. Furthermore, craftsmen from other English towns such as Salisbury came to work in Southampton.
A survey in showed Southampton had a population of 4, There were 2 outbreaks of plague in Southampton in the 16th century, one in and one in But after each outbreak of plague, the population quickly recovered.
There were always plenty of poor people from the countryside looking for work and they drifted into towns.
It opened in in Winkle Street. In King James sold Southampton castle, which was now falling into ruin. However, Southampton languished in the 17th century. At the end of the century, people commented that its trade had decayed and the town had fallen into neglect. In Prince Frederick went bathing in the sea at Southampton. He liked it so much he returned again the same year.
Although he died the next year his 3 sons came to visit the town. Soon many rich visitors followed. People believed that bathing in seawater could heal many diseases. Furthermore 18th century Southampton began to recover as a port. From the s trade in Southampton began to revive even more. Coal from Newcastle was imported in increasing amounts.
Wool stockings were imported from the Channel Islands. From Southampton began to grow north of the Bargate. By growth had spread as far as Commercial Road. The population rose from about 6, in to about 8, in From the authorities planted trees along the road across the Common.
In an assembly room was opened on West Quay. Balls were held there and games of cards. In Southampton got its first theatre in French Street. The town gained its first bank in In an act of Parliament set up a body of men called the Improvement Commissioners with powers to pave and clean the main streets of Southampton. From they provided oil lamps to light some of the streets. In Eastgate was demolished as it impeded the flow of traffic.
In a passage for pedestrians was cut through the east arch of the Bargate. Later another was cut through the west gate. In a wooden bridge was built across the Itchen at Northam. The improvement commissioners in Southampton also towed away carts blocking the streets of Southampton. They were chained to a tree known as the pound tree and the owner had to pay a fine to get them back.
During the Napoleonic wars, Southampton prospered because of the soldiers passing through on their way abroad. They spent lots of money in the town. Furthermore, by the early 19th century the port was booming again.
Timber was imported from the Baltic, grain from Ireland and Eastern England. Coal, slate, and building stone were brought from Scotland. Also, wine and fruit were imported into Southampton from Portugal and Spain. On the other hand Southampton lost its position as a seaside resort to Brighton. By sea-bathing had largely ceased. However, the quays at Southampton were not sufficient for the number of ships visiting the port.
In a dock was built. Also in the early 19th century, many new shipyards were built along the Itchen. In a paddle steamer began running between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. In paddle steamers began running from Southampton to France and the Channel Islands. By , people were travelling from Southampton by steamship every year.
In the early 19th century the Saltmarsh, east of Southampton was drained and the land was sold for building houses. At the same time, the 4 fields north of Southampton were purchased by the town council and turned into parks. In the s growth spread to Northam. Then in the s, it spread to Freemantle and Newtown. In the s many new houses were built in Shirley, St Denys, and Portswood and by growth spread to Swaythling. After Bitterne Park Estate was built.
In the railway reached Southampton. Stagecoach building was a major industry in the early 19th century. However, with the coming of railways, it slowly declined.
From the s there were horse-drawn buses in Southampton and from horse-drawn trams. The trams were electrified after There were several other improvements in 19th century Southampton. Gas street lights were installed in Then in , the first modern police force was founded. In the Royal South Hampshire hospital opened. In the first cemetery opened near the southern end of the Common. Southampton is marking 50 years since it was awarded city status.
On 24 February it was granted a royal charter because of its growing population, large port and contribution to the economy. It had first applied for city status in , but that request was turned down by King George V.
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