Southampton

Southampton is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England. The city has a population of 215 000.

In common with the cities of Coventry and Plymouth, it was heavily bombed during the Second World War. It still has the remains of old city walls, at the northern end of which the large Bar Gate, formerly the main entrance to the city, still stands. There are large parks.

Established by the Romans as Clausentum, it was an important trading port for the large Roman towns of Winchester and Salisbury. The Anglo-Saxons moved the centre of the town slightly and its prosperity was assured in the Dark Ages when Winchester became capital of England.

It was sacked by Grimaldi[?], a pirate, who used the plunder to buy the principality of Monaco. Although historically a part of the county of Hampshire, in recent local government re-organisations it has become a self-administering unitary authority, like a county, together with Portsmouth.

Southampton has had a few significant impacts on global history. In common with most of the luxury liners of the time, the Titanic sailed from here. The Supermarine Spitfire was developed and initially manufactured in the suburb of Woolston.

The city is home to the University of Southampton and Southampton Institute[?], and is run by Southampton City Council[?].

The outstanding harbour means it is the principal port on the south coast, and one of the largest in the UK. Sailing is a popular sport here.

Southampton Football Club (a.k.a. the "Saints") is also based here. It was a Southampton team member, Charles William Miller[?], who founded Brazil's first football club.

External links

• Southampton City Council (http://www.southampton.gov.uk/)
• Southampton Football Club (http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/)