Southampton: A Potted History

Southampton has been a major port on the South Coast of England since the Norman conquest, when it was a significant departure route for trade to Normandy as well as for invading forces. Its position meant it was also potentially threatened by forces from abroad and extensive defences were built over the centuries, from its mediaeval walls to Tudor fortifications along the Solent. In the nineteenth century Southampton Docks were developed and the strategic importance of the city, as well as...