A TIMELINE OF SOUTHAMPTON
By Tim Lambert
c. 70 The Romans build a town on the site of Bitterne
407 The Roman army leaves Britain. Afterwards Roman towns are abandoned
690-700 The Saxon King Ine builds a new town on the site of St Marys Church
c. 950 The town declines as the Itchen silts up and it is eventually abandoned. A much smaller town is built on south of Bargate
1066 After the Norman Conquest Normans settle in Southampton. The Normans build a castle in the town.
c. 1217 A mayor of Southampton is first mentioned
c. 1237 Friars arrive in Southampton
c. 1250 A suburb grows up at Newtown
c. 1260-1300 Stone walls are built around Southampton
1338 The French attack Southampton
c 1500 Southampton is in decline. The port is less and less busy.
1541 Despite the economic decline Southampton is described as 'handsome'.
1554 A grammar school opens
1563 Plague strikes
1567 Belgian Protestants settle in Southampton.
1581 Plague strikes again
1596 A survey shows Southampton has a population of 4,200.
1600 Southampton is described as a 'decayed' port.
1618 The king sells Southampton Castle, which is now in ruins
1700 Southampton has dwindled from being a major port and town to being a 'decayed' port
1750 Prince Frederick goes swimming in the sea at Southampton and the town starts to revive
1761 Assembly Rooms open
c. 1770 Southampton grows north of Bargate. The street are paved and cleaned
1778 Southampton gains its first bank
1782 The streets are lit by oil lamps
c. 1801 The population of Southampton is about 8,000.
c. 1820 The port of Southampton is reviving strongly
1822 A paddle steamer begins running between Southampton and the Isle of Wight
1823 Paddle steamers begin running to France
1829 The streets of Southampton are lit by gas
1838 The Royal South Hants Hospital opens
1840 The railway reaches Southampton
1849 Cholera kills 240 people in Southampton
1860 Many new houses are built in Shirley as Southampton grows
1865 The Cholera kills 151
1879 Horse drawn trams begin running in Southampton
1889 The first public library opens in Southampton. The first electric street lights are switched on
1900 The trams in Southampton are electrified
1919 Cunard make Southampton the terminus of their Atlantic service. The first motor buses run.
1920 The boundaries of Southampton are extended
1923 A flying boat service to the Channel Islands begins
1919 The first motor buses begin running
1932-39 Southampton Civic Centre is built
World War II 641 people are killed by bombs in Southampton
1949 The last tram runs
1954 The boundaries of Southampton are extended again
1964 Southampton is made a city
1988 Merchants House Museum opens
1989 Bargate Shopping Centre opens
1991 Marlands Shopping Centre opens
1996 An Oceanography Centre opens
2000 West Quay Shopping Centre opens