I live in Southampton so have been to many of these but I'll be going for a wander round to see a few more, thanks Nathen! If you're in the area again I'd suggest a visit to Romsey, King John's house is sadly currently closed due to a fire but the Abbey is stunning (brought by locals for £100 following HVIII closure!) Few good pubs and Flacks Brewery is definitely worth a visit.
I have never been to Southampton, and had no idea there are so many historic buildings and ruins to see there. It’s now gone on my list of places I need to visit.
Nathen, saw your interview in this month's All About History mag (on KU even in the US) and thought "Ooh, I sort of know him!" Followed by "but he already taught me about this!" Cheers!
I went to school in Southampton in the 90s and spent teenage weekends in what we all thought was a drab modern city centre full of ugly malls. Bargate and the Merchants House were the only historical elements that had any visibility or signage. But over the intervening decades the walls have really been brought back into visibility with more careful town planning, and you’ve unearthed many beautiful survivors here my teenage self had no idea existed and would have loved! I’ll have a good walking day next time I’m back! (Also lol Simnel/Warwick Street, and *of course* E4 was given a barrel of sweet wine…)
Excellent post - and very timely, as I'm heading there soon. There's a lot there I wasn't aware of, which I shall try to visit.
May I add nearby Netley Abbey to your list, a Cistercian monastery from the reign of Henry III. Netley is just outside Southampton and surely one of the best ruined abbeys in England.
I rather like the idea of you conducting a guided tour for kings Edward, Richard and Henry and pointing out the places they might have known. You might have to explain the Duke of Wellington though 😀
I live in Southampton so have been to many of these but I'll be going for a wander round to see a few more, thanks Nathen! If you're in the area again I'd suggest a visit to Romsey, King John's house is sadly currently closed due to a fire but the Abbey is stunning (brought by locals for £100 following HVIII closure!) Few good pubs and Flacks Brewery is definitely worth a visit.
Also... Winchester next please!
This is well worth a visit, especially with the app https://878ad.co.uk/
I have never been to Southampton, and had no idea there are so many historic buildings and ruins to see there. It’s now gone on my list of places I need to visit.
Nathen, saw your interview in this month's All About History mag (on KU even in the US) and thought "Ooh, I sort of know him!" Followed by "but he already taught me about this!" Cheers!
Very interesting! It’s amazing that there’s so much to actually still see when reading/learning about it. Great Britain indeed 🙏
I went to school in Southampton in the 90s and spent teenage weekends in what we all thought was a drab modern city centre full of ugly malls. Bargate and the Merchants House were the only historical elements that had any visibility or signage. But over the intervening decades the walls have really been brought back into visibility with more careful town planning, and you’ve unearthed many beautiful survivors here my teenage self had no idea existed and would have loved! I’ll have a good walking day next time I’m back! (Also lol Simnel/Warwick Street, and *of course* E4 was given a barrel of sweet wine…)
Thank you so much for this detailed guide, it will be most usefull if ans when I visit, hopefully this year.
Thanks for the great info on Southhampton. Love that there is so much history left in places around the UK.
Excellent post - and very timely, as I'm heading there soon. There's a lot there I wasn't aware of, which I shall try to visit.
May I add nearby Netley Abbey to your list, a Cistercian monastery from the reign of Henry III. Netley is just outside Southampton and surely one of the best ruined abbeys in England.
Thank you for the little tour and accompanying photos!
Thank you Nathen. I grew up not too far from Southampton but haven't been back for ages. Will have to make time to do so
So now Southampton is on my to-visit list...! Your new spotlight series could prove rather dangerous... 👀
I rather like the idea of you conducting a guided tour for kings Edward, Richard and Henry and pointing out the places they might have known. You might have to explain the Duke of Wellington though 😀
Amazing! You have really winkled out every interesting old history in Southampton, of which I am sure most people are oblivious.
Who would have thought!
We spent so long at Port Chester EH on our only visit to the area that we didn't have time to get to Southampton. Thanks for the fab information!