Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/512

SOUTHAMPTON. 500 SOUTHAMPTON. which stretches for 7 miles in a south-easterly direction, and is 2 miles broad at its mouth. The approach by the London-road lies through Southampton Common, 365 acres in extent, left to the town many centuries ago for public purposes. It cannot be otherwise disposed of without the common consent of the inhabitants and the approval of parliament, for which end several unsuccess- ful attempts have been made. It is richly wooded and well laid out with promenades and drives, and nearer to the town are avenues of elm-trees. The town consists of the old and new portions. The former occupies the S. W. corner, and was originally surrounded by walls 1 j mile in circumference, flanked by round towers, con- siderable portions of which remain, particularly on the W. side. It was entered by several gates, three of which are yet standing West Gate, South Gate, and Bar Gate. The last is a structure standing across the principal street in the present town ; it is embattled and machicolated, and is sufficiently large to serve as the townhall. On the N. front are two gigantic figures, representing Sir Bevois of Southampton and the giant Ascupart. From the great increase in the extent of the town, this gate now stands nearly in its centre. The street which it crosses is 2 miles long, and runs nearly N. and S., being divided into Above Bar and Below Bar, or High-street. The latter part, which is three-quarters of a mile in length, terminates near a pier erected in 1832, and opened by the Princess, now Queen Victoria, in honour of whom it is called Victoria Pier. The prin- cipal streets run at right angles to this central one, those of older erection being irregularly planned ; while the modern buildings Above Bar are generally imposing. This part of the town has more than doubled itself within the last thirty years, and beyond it are ex- tensive suburbs containing villas surrounded by gardens, and mansions skirted with tuftings of wood. Along the shore, for half a mile at the end of High-street, is a raised walk lined with trees, and commanding a view of the harbour. The county of the town comprises all the peninsula formed by the rivers Itchen and Anton, and extends 3 miles along the bank of the former, with a mean breadth of half a mile. It contains 6 pars., but is united under a local Act for purposes connected with the relief of the poor. There are 5 parish churches within the town, of which one is in the gift of the Bishop of Winchester, one in that of Queen's College, Oxford, and three in that of the lord chancellor. Holy- rood Church, standing in the principal street, is an ancient building with a tower and spire, containing six bells, and a colonnade or portico occupying the entire front. The church of St. Lawrence is an ancient struc- ture, with a tower only rising to the ridge of the nave. St. Michael's, the oldest church in the town, occupies the E. side of a square which was formerly used as a fish-market, and serves as a landmark from the harbour. It is an ancient structure partly Norman, with a tower surmounted by a lofty octagonal spire containing six bells, and has a W. window. All Saints is a Grecian building with a turret and dome. St. Paul's, a pro- prietary chapel in the same parish, displays considerable architectural beauty. St. Mary's is a plain ancient structure, much modernised. There are also three chapels-of-ease. The Independents and Baptists have each two chapels, and there are places of worship for English Presbyterians, Wesleyan and Primitive Me- thodists, Unitarians, Roman Catholics, Friends, and Jews. There are parochial, National, British, and in- fant schools, a school of industry for girls, founded in 1828 through the influence of Queen Adelaide, a diocesan grammar school, and a grammar school with a small endowment, founded in 1653 by Edward VI. A mecha- nics' institute has been established here, with library and museum, also a literary and scientific institution. There are several almshouses, a dispensary established in 1823, infirmary, and many other charities, among which is one left under the will of Alderman Tauhton in 1760, which provides for the instruction of 10 boys, supplies a stipend of 10 a-year to 16 aged persons, and gives rewards to deserving female servants. There are also an extramural cemetery of 10 acres, recently formed out of a portion of the common on the south-east, several benefit societies, a female penitentiary, and Royal Humane Society. The gaol and house of correc- tion, erected in 1855 at a cost of 24,000, is in the Tudor style, built of red brick with stone dressings. The custom-house, in the vicinity of the docks, is a commodious building of recent erection, as is also the corn exchange, where the Chamber of Commerce meets. The Ordnance Survey Office for England is now fixed at Southampton, having been removed thither from the Tower of London, and occupies the old barracks. The Admiralty and Transport Office and the Government Emigration Office are also established in the town. The Royal Southern Yacht Club, established in 1844, have here a club-house in the Italian style of architecture, facing the Royal Pier and commanding a view of the harbour. Other buildings are the baths, erected at a cost of 7,000, two sets of assembly-rooms, and a theatre. The annual regatta is generally held in August, and there is a racecourse, but the races have been discon- tinued. There are also archery grounds and a botanic garden. Southampton claims to be a borough by pre- scription, but its first known charter was granted by Henry II. Under the Municipal Reform Act it is divided into five wards, the corporation consisting of 10 aldermen and 30 councillors, from among whom the mayor is chosen ; and under the Public Health Act the corporation is also a local board of health. The town is well paved, lighted with gas, and kept clean. Pure spring water is obtained from a reservoir in Southamp- ton Common, about 1J mile from the town, supplied by an artesian well, 910 feet deep the shaft being 560 feet, and the artesian bore 350 feet. The borough has re- turned two members to parliament since the reign of Edward I. The trade of the town is considerable, chiefly connected with the supply of the shipping ; but few manufactures are carried on, the principal being sugar refining, castings, coachbuilding and shipbuilding. There are also some largo breweries. The harbour affords good anchorage, its depth varying from 2 to 6 fathoms. Vessels of 300 tons can come up to the quay, and a pier has been made for the passenger and mail service from the Continent, to which large steamers have access. It has also been selected as the terminus of the Peninsular and Oriental and {he West Indian mail packets, and of the Union Screw Company, whose united fleets number upwards of 80 large steamers ; and it has been selected by Government as one of the emigra- tion ports. Once clear of the harbour and in the English Channel, the navigation is no longer difficult, and vessels are thus saved from the dangers and delays which attend those sailing from London in rounding the Forelands and Beechy Head. Dock accommodation is very exten- sive. A large tidal dock, completed in 1842 at a cost of 140,000, with 18 feet of water at the lowest tides, is accessible at all times to steamers of 2,000 tons, and at high-water to almost any vessel. It is paved with granite, its sides are lined with warehouses, covering an area of 16 acres, and it has 3,100 feet of quay room. Aninner Dock, for colliers, was opened in 1851. There are also three graving docks. The customs duties re- ceived in 1863 amounted to 107,598. The number of British vessels which entered inwards was 2,347, with an aggregate tonnage of 458,9/9, and of foreign 440, tonnage 108,752. In the same year there cleared out- wards 1,561 British vessels, tonnage 280,416, and 4C9 foreign, tonnage 106,067. The principal articles of import were stone from the western, and coal from the north-eastern maritime counties, corn and provisions from Ireland, timber from the Baltic and America, wine and brandy from France, Spain, and Portugal. About 3 miles to the S.E. of the town, on the shores of Southampton Water, are the ruins of Netley Abbey, founded by Henry III. in 1229, and near it tho large hospital erected under the auspices of the late Princo Consort. A canal follows the course of the Anton to Andover, and the Itchen is navigable to Winchester. The South- Western railway communicates with London