Southampton

Map

The overlays that highlight 17th century London features are approximate and derived from Wenceslaus Hollar’s maps:

Open location in Google Maps: 50.909830, -1.404392

1 Annotation

First Reading

JWB  •  Link

Southampton
- Clausentum
Period - 17th century

refce: Blome 1673
"Southampton, commodiously seated on an Arm of the Sea, capable to receive ships of a considerable burthen to its Keys, which are fair and very convenient for the lading and unlading of goods: the opportunity of which hath made it to be a place of good trade, and well inhabited by Merchants, and Shop-keepers. The Town is well built and large, numbring five Parish Churches, besides an Hospital called Gods-house ... and for its security is fenced about with a double Ditch and strong walls, on which are several Watch-towers, and hath seven Gates for entrance; And the better to secure its Haven, here was built a strong Castle ... This Town is said to be raised out of the ruins of the ancient Clausentum of the Romans, where they had a strong Fort, the better to secure the South-coast of these parts from the Saxons. And here it was that the powerful Canute, caused his Chair to be placed on the Sea-shoar, and proudly commanded the Waves not to approach him, or come upon his Land, but being disobeyed, he acknowledged God the Supream Lord and Governour, and in a religious devotion gave up his Crown to the rood at Winchester. It is at present a Town and County of itself, governed by a Major, Bailiffs, and Burgesses, enjoyeth large immunities, sendeth Burgesses to Parliament, is dignified with the Title of an Earldom, which at present is in the person of the Right Honorable Charles Palmer, Earl of Southampton, and Baron Limrick, &c. and its Market on Tuesdays and Thursdays, are not very great except for provisions"
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/hantsg…

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References

Chart showing the number of references in each month of the diary’s entries.

1662