Southampton (Borough and seaport town)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a borough and seaport town of England, in the county of Hants, on a peninsula at the mouth of the Itchen, near the head of Southampton Water, 18 miles N. W. of Portsmouth, and 79 miles S. W. of London. It is built on rising ground, and consists of an old and a new town, the former at one time surrounded by walls flanked with towers, of which portions still remain; and entered by several gates, of which three, still standing, bear the names of West Gate, South Gate, and Bar Gate. The last, a remarkable structure, and large enough to contain the Gildhall in the upper part of it, is now, in consequence of the growth of the town, nearly in its center, and being placed across the principal street, divides it into two parts, the part to the N. being named Above-bar, and to the S. Below-bar or High street. The streets in the older quarters are very irregular, while those in the more modern portion present many fine ranges of buildings. St. Michael's, the oldest of the churches, situated in the W. part of the town, is a spacious Norman structure with many interesting features. Other buildings of interest are the Southampton College, the Hartley Institution, public library, custom house, audit house, the theater, philharmonic rooms, assembly rooms, ordnance map office, baths, etc. About 6 miles from Southampton, and 3 miles from Netley Abbey, is the Victoria Hos pital for sick soldiers. The first tidal dock was opened for business in 1842. There is ample dock accommodation, and Southampton is one of the most important ports in the kingdom. The manufactures are chiefly confined to brewing, coach building, iron casting, sugar refining, and shipbuilding. Southampton", claims to be a borough by prescription, but its earliest known charter was granted by Henry II. Pop. (1919), 131,289.