July meeting

"We all enjoyed our interesting walk round the Southampton City walls in June.

We discussed the history of Southampton from its beginnings, thousands of years ago when it was just a series of isolated settlements on the banks of the Test and Itchen.
The Romans had a settlement at Bitterne called Clausentum, which started as a military fort to subdue the local population.
The Saxons started to arrive in the late 5th Century and founded Hamwic. By the 7th Century this area was part of a Royal Estate called Stanham = modern Stoneham, which took its name from the stones remaining from the Roman Settlement at Bitterne.
Because of the Viking raids , trade disruption and reorganisation of defences under King Alfred, Winchester re-emerged as the centre of Royal control and Hamwic slid into decay.
The 1338 raid by French and Genoese soldiers brought an orgy of destruction bringing to an end nearly 2 Centuries of prosperity. Virtual martial law was installed,the rest of the town walls built and the number of the garrison was increased.
For over half of the 18th Century Southampton became a very popular Spa Town.This began when Frederick, Prince of Wales visited the town and ended when the Napoleanic Wars started.
In Victorian times the coming of the Railways,Iron Ships and the building of the Docks helped expand Southampton to what it is today.

Our next meeting will be on Monday 15th September when we will be discussing "The Wars of the Roses".

Michael Page.