Southampton History

Southampton has played a vital role in English history for over 1,000 years. The city's port has been an important strategic location both for the British fleet itself as well as potential invaders and Southampton has been involved in just about every English war.

Many historic voyages have started at Southampton Docks. The most famous being that of the 'unsinkable' Titanic, which set sail on April 10th 1914. Southampton suffered the loss greatly as approximately 500 of the ship’s crew came from the city.

Despite being heavily bombed in the Second World War much of Southampton’s medieval city wall is still in evidence today, the best example being near the Western Esplanade.