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SOUTHAMPTON - ENGLAND
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-organisations 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 city is home to the University of Southampton, Southampton Institute,
and the Ordnance Survey.
The outstanding harbour means it is the principal port on the south coast,
and one of the largest in the UK. Sailing is a popular sport here.
Southampton Football Club (a.k.a. the "Saints") is also based here. It was a
Southampton team member, Charles William Miller, who founded Brazil's first
football club.
There are three members of parliament for the city: John Denham (Labour) for
Southampton Itchen (constituency for the east of the city), Dr Alan
Whitehead (Labour) for Southampton Test (the west of the city), and Sandra
Gidley (Liberal Democrat) for Romsey (a small portion of the north of the
city).
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 levelled.
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.
Nearby villages
Hedge End
Nursling
Netley Abbey
Chilworth
Nearby rivers
River Itchen
River Hamble
River Test
Twin Towns
Le Havre, France (since 1973)
Rems-Murr-Kreis, Germany (since 1991)
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