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Southampton is a city and major port situated on the south coast
of England. It is the closest city to the New Forest and lies at the
northern-most point of Southampton Water approximately halfway between
Portsmouth and Bournemouth.
Although historically a part of the county of Hampshire, the city became an
independent unitary authority in local government re-organizations on April 1,
1997. This makes Southampton an administrative county in its own right though it
remains part of Hampshire for ceremonial purposes and in common usage. Under the
name of Southampton there are several districts within the city, including
Woolston, Bitterne, Portswood, Bassett, Shirley, Millbrook and Swaythling.
In common with many British towns and cities, such as Coventry and Plymouth, it
was heavily bombed during the Second World War. Many historic buildings were
lost as a result but the old city walls remain, as does the Bargate, formerly
the main gateway to the city, located at the northern end of the walls. There
are numerous large parks in the city centre.
The outstanding harbor means it is the principal port on the south coast, and
one of the largest in the UK. Sailing is a popular sport here.
History
Although Stone Age settlements are known to have existed in the area, the first
permanent settlement was established by the Romans. Known as Clausentum, it was
an important trading port for the large Roman towns of Winchester and Salisbury.
The Anglo-Saxons moved the centre of the town across the River Itchen to its
present location, and it remained an important port. The Viking King Canute the
Great is supposed to have defeated the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelred the Unready
here in 1014. However, its prosperity was assured following the Norman Conquest
in 1066, when it became the major port of transit between Winchester (then the
capital of England) and Normandy.
It was sacked in 1338 by the French, including the pirate Grimaldi, who used the
plunder to help found the principality of Monaco.
The Second World War hit Southampton particularly hard, because of its strategic
importance as the major industrial area on the South Coast. Pockets of Georgian
architecture remain, but much of the city was leveled.
Southampton was awarded city status in 1964 following a royal charter.
Southampton has had a few significant impacts on global history...
It was the original point of departure for the Pilgrim Fathers aboard the
Mayflower. A memorial may be found on Town Quay.
In common with most of the luxury liners of the time, the Titanic sailed from
here, and it is still an important ocean liner port frequented by luxury ships
such as the QE2, the Oriana, and most recently the Queen Mary 2. A memorial to
the crew of the Titanic may be found in Above Bar Street.
The Supermarine Spitfire was developed and initially manufactured in the suburb
of Woolston. A memorial plaque to its designer, Reginald Mitchell, may be found
in Russell Place in the suburb of Highfield.
The city was the birthplace of hymn writer Isaac Watts. The Watts memorial in
the city's West Park - also known as the Watts Park - was unveiled in 1861. Just
across the road from there, the city's Civic Centre (the first building to bear
that name) has a clock which plays a Watts hymn (O God Our Help In Ages Past)
every four hours.
BOAC had a flying boat base in the docks serving British colonial possessions in
Africa and Asia in the 1930s and 1940s. It closed in 1950 when land based
aircraft became dominant.
Nearby, Calshot Spit was a base for the military flying boat services.
Source: City of
Southampton
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