The British Invasion of Clacton-on-Sea

The British Invasion of Clacton-on-Sea

  • Posted on May 19 2024
  • /Under War
In the September of 1904, the British Army carried out a full-scale amphibious assault on the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea. Yes, you read that right. The invasion of the town saw approximately 12,000 men of the First Army Corps wade ashore with some 3,000 horses and sixty guns behind them.…continue reading →
Southampton’s Royal Visit – 22 June 1939

Southampton’s Royal Visit – 22 June 1939

  • Posted on June 2 2022
  • /Under Events
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953, over a year after she had acceded to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. 2022, therefore, marks the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. This article, however, does not look at Her…continue reading →
The Great Snowfall – 25 April 1908

The Great Snowfall – 25 April 1908

  • Posted on April 25 2022
  • /Under Events
After the people of Southampton had risen from their beds on the morning of 25 April 1908, many would have opened their doors to a veritable winter wonderland. It was a sudden and heavy blizzard that completely covered the entire town in a thick blanket of snow. May was less…continue reading →
Willie Mew

Willie Mew

  • Posted on January 30 2022
  • /Under People
I've been collecting Southampton-related postcards for some time now and I recently saw one that immediately caught my eye. The front of the postcard itself was striking enough, but it was the address on the back that instantly stood out to me. I recognised this address because I had plotted…continue reading →
Holyrood Church

Holyrood Church

  • Posted on December 12 2021
  • /Under Churches
Although wounded and scarred, Holyrood Church stands proudly on Southampton High Street in a position it has held since 1320. It has stood firm despite invading bands of murderous raiders and devastating German bombs and today, whilst reduced to a ruin, it continues to be a recognisable landmark on Southampton's…continue reading →

Guest Post: Immigrants in Later Medieval Southampton

  • Posted on April 29 2021
  • /Under Guest
Controversies over immigration have dominated news headlines in Britain in recent years, prompting commentators to look to the past to contextualise the issues of the present. In literature exploring the history of immigration, it is not uncommon to encounter the arrival of hundreds of West Indian immigrants aboard the SS…continue reading →
Southampton’s Blackout

Southampton’s Blackout

  • Posted on February 21 2021
  • /Under WW2
The word 'Blitz' immediately conjures images of air raids and destruction, but whilst the RAF battled in the air to keep Britain safe, ordinary members of the public fought their own war on the ground. The word 'Blitz' has become synonymous with Britain's war and alongside this, another word became…continue reading →
Sir Bevis of Hampton

Sir Bevis of Hampton

  • Posted on January 31 2021
  • /Under Stories
The legend of Sir Bevis of Hampton is an old tale but despite its age, its legacy remains all around us. Whether the hero of our story's name is spelt Bevis, Beves, Bevois, Beve, Bueve, Beavis, Boeve, Buovo, or Bovo, the legend is, according to expert Jennifer Fellows, 'arguably one…continue reading →
The Duke of Wellington and the Red Lion

The Duke of Wellington and the Red Lion

  • Posted on December 27 2020
  • /Under Buildings
The Duke of Wellington on Bugle Street and the Red Lion on Southampton High Street are two of Southampton's most recognisable pubs, but they always seem to cause the same old debate. Which pub is older? Many argue that the Red Lion is the older of the two because King…continue reading →