Jane Austen
Jane Austen Back to A-Z index Jane Austen was an English novelist whose books, set among the English middle and upper classes, are notable for their wit, social observation and acute insights into the lives of early 19th century women. She was born on 16 December 1775 in the village of Steventon in Hampshire. Jane […]
Air Raids
Air Raids Back to A-Z index Being the home of the Spitfire, Southampton was a target for German bombers. The first bomb fell on 19th June 1940 and the last, a Doodlebug, on 15th July 1944. 2,631 high explosive bombs and 30, 652 incendiary bombs were recorded. There were about 60 raids killing 631. There […]
Richard Andrews
Richard Andrews Back to A-Z index Richard Andrews has been called Southampton’s Dick Whittington. In 1821 he walked 20 miles from his home in Bishops Sutton and rapidly built up a coach building business in Above Bar. A Liberal, he was Mayor five times during the 1850’s. Richard Andrews died in 1859 and his statue […]
Artesian Well
Artesian Well Back to A-Z index As Southampton grew in the 19th century there was a demand for water. The reservoirs on the Common were inadequate despite well being sunk to 1,260 feet and finally abandoned in 1883. Attention then turned to tapping the Itchen at Mansbridge but this was impure. Finally, the Southampton Waterworks […]
Arcades
Arcades Back to A-Z index Following the French Raid of 1338 the strengthening of the town’s defence system was ordered by King Edward III. The town was to be fully enclosed by stone walls, especially along the western quays, where wealthy merchants had built their houses. Due to a shortage of suitable stones, a compromise […]