Where Past Meets Present:
Preserving Medieval Southampton
Where Past Meets Present: Preserving Medieval Southampton
William Cooper, watercolour, 1896–97
Maritime & Local History Collection
Medieval Southampton was a busy port, exporting wool and importing French wine, which was stored in its underground vaults.
After a destructive French raid in 1338, King Edward III ordered the building of defensive walls. These walls were finished by the early 1420s and still stand on the western side of the town, along with landmarks like the Bargate and the West Gate. However, not all of the city’s heritage has survived due to town planning, slum clearances, and bombing during the Second World War (1939–45).
This exhibition shows how, over the past 120 years, we have worked to preserve our heritage through major repair programmes that ensure these monuments last for future generations.
With the help of modern technology, including laser scanning and augmented reality (AR) by the University of Southampton, many of these monuments are now reimagined and made more accessible.
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