THE PORT OF SOUTHAMPTON IN 1500

The settlement of Southampton can be traced back to a fortified Roman camp on the Itchen called Clausentum but after they left, commerce moved across the banks of the river to what is now the St Mary's area known as Hamwic. By the middle of the 11th century this was described as South Hamtun by Anglo Saxon Chroniclers and developed under royal patronage as an entreport where traders were protected and taxed.
Over the centuries the fortunes of the port fluctuated with those of the kingdom and was sacked by the French in 1338. The unique phenomenon of the double high tide is usually cited as an advantage but before the invention of the steam engine it was a barrier to sailing ships.
During the nineteenth century royal patronage again promoted Southampton as a spa town and seaside resort complete with it's own 'folly' castle.
With the invention of steam power the tides were no longer a problem for ships and entrepreneurs soon realised that by connecting to the port by rail more than a day could be saved in transporting goods around the world.
Suddenly the double high tide became an advantage to the port as ships could be loaded and unloaded at most times of the day and during World War Two the town became the springboard for D-Day with the headquarters of the US Army in a wing of the Civic Centre.
The proximity to Winchester and London made the port an important regional centre and Southampton was finally awarded city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964 .
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