Southampton is a harbor city major of 220.000 inhabitants, located on the southern part of the England, in the Hampshire, between Portsmouth and Bournemouth, behind the island of Wight. It has the statute of '' quoted ''.
Like other English cities, Southampton was seriously damaged during the Second world war: the major part of the city was destroyed by the German bombardments of the Luftwaffe . The wall enclosing medieval and its monumental, known entry under the name of Bargate , the north of the old city, were saved. This door is often used as symbol of Southampton.
Southampton is the city nearest to the New Forest.
The majority of the municipal services like the library or the art gallery are lodged in the Civic Center.
History
Roman period
Although campings going back to the Stone Age were put at the day in the zone, it seems that the first permanent installations were established by the Romans. Known as Clausentum , it was then an important commercial port for the large Roman cities of Winchester and Salisbury.
The Middle Ages
The Anglo-Saxon then moved the center of the city beyond the River Itchen, until its situation present. At that time, the city was centered on what is called now the St Mary' S area . The place was then known under the name of Hamwic, which evolved/moved later in Hamtun , to give Hampton finally.
The king Canute Viking the Large one is supposed to have overcome the Anglo-Saxon king Ethelred the Unready in Southampton in 1014.
The prosperity of the city was ensured after the conquest Norman, in 1066, when Southampton became the main port of transit of goods between Winchester, then capital of England, and the Normandy.
At the 13th century, Southampton particularly develops its activity in the trade of the Laine. The Wool House , the oldest building preserved of Southampton, was thus built in 1417 like warehouse for the exchange of wool with the Flanders and the Italy. The building, located close to the quays, shelters the maritime museum now. It is also with the Middle Ages that naval construction takes its rise in Southampton to play during several century a big role there.
Southampton was sacagée in 1338 by the French, with in particular the participation of the pirate Grimaldi, who used the spoils to help with the foundation of the Principality of Monaco. After this attack, the city obtained a powerful enclosing wall, with 29 7 main door and turns of duty. Its ruins can still be seen today: about half was safeguarded. They represent the second most important vestiges of medieval enclosures in England, after the long enclosure of York. The ramparts include the God' S House Tower , built in 1417, which was the first military element in England intended specifically for the reception of parts of Artillerie. Today, it became the natural history museum of archeology.
In 1415, little before the departure the king Henry V for the battles of Azincourt, a plot aiming at assassinating the monarch is thwarted in Southampton. The conspirators were carried out in Bargate.
Modern history
The Second world war struck particularly Southampton, because of its strategic importance as a principal industrial city of the southern part. Some pockets of architecture géorgienne remain, but most of the city was shaven.
A seaboard town
Like shows it its history, Southampton had, as of its creation, a major bond with the sea and the maritime trade and of passengers. The sail is thus a developed leisure, in particular around Ocean Village , the local marina, which lodges one of the complexes of the most important leisures of the southern part.
Southampton was thus the initial starting point of the 'pilgrims of the Mayflower for America. A memorial testifies some with Town Quay.
Since first half of the XXe century, and in particular during the time of the inter-war period, Southampton this vocation of port of call of momentary ships reinforced. Thus, before the Second world war, the port ensured almost half of this traffic starting from England. Just like the majority of the most luxurious deck chairs of its time, the Titanic installed of Southampton for its first and last voyage. Several steles testify to its history and pay homage to its crew and the victims.
Nowadays, Southampton remains one of principal the ports of Great Britain. It is particularly active in the reception of the container ships and the prestigious cruising ships, like the Queen Elizabeth 2, the Queen Mary 2, the Oriana or the Aurora .
Education
The city has two universities, the University of Southampton, recently classified 13th University of the United Kingdom by the newspaper The Guardian , as well as most recent Université Solent. Southampton became these last years a major commercial pole of the coast, with the establishment of several shopping malls of big size, the such West Quay Shopping Centers , which gathers a hundred shops.
Parks
The parks and green areas are numerous in the center town. Vastest is Southampton Common , where the Wildlife Center is, on the old site of the zoo of Southampton.- East (Andrews) Park
- West (Watts) Park
- Hoglands Parks
- Queens Park
- Houndwell Park
- Palmerston Park
Historic buildings
- the door Bargate
- the medieval enclosing wall
- various steles concerning the Titanic
- the house of medieval merchant
- the course " Walk the Walls"
- Holyrood Church, bombarded in December 1940, is preserved like memorial of the merchant navy for the 2nd world war.
- the Tower Catchold (XVe), with its machicolations
- the Tower God' S House (XIIIe)
- the house Tudor
Museums
- the museum of art in the Civic Center
- the archaeological museum
- the maritime museum
- the museum of Solent aviation, with in particular the production of the Spitfire drawn by RJ Mitchell.
- the gallery John Pit-saw
- the gallery Millais
Curiosities
- Southampton shelters the oldest ground of bowling of the world.
Celebrities
- James Oliver Preston: (1596-1676): sailor and English soldier, born in Southampton
- Philippe de Carteret (1733-1796), navigator, died in Southampton
- Will Champion (1978-), beater of the Coldplay group, born in Southampton
- Benny Hill (1924-1992), comic actor, born in Southampton
- Ken Russell (1927-), realizer of cinema, born in Southampton
- Craig David (1981-), singer of R' B
- R J Mitchell (Reginald Mitchell) (1895-1937), chief technical officer of Vickers-Supermarine, originator of the Supermarine Spitfire, died in Southampton (consulted page on July 11th, 2007) < http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/aboutrjmitchell/index.asp?sectionID=1 >
Sports
- Football: Southampton FC
Twinnings
Simple: Southampton
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