Southampton, city and unitary authority (2011 pop. 236,882), S
England, at the head of Southampton Water. Southampton is
Britain's second largest port. The London-Southampton railway,
finished in 1840, and the double tide of the harbor made
Southampton an important shipbuilding, trade, and tourist port
as well as England's main ocean liner port. In 1951, a major oil
tanker terminal and refinery were built on the western shore,
and North Sea oil became a primary economic focus in 1978. There
are several major manufactures, including automobiles and
aircraft. Cables, electrical engineering products, and
petrochemicals are also produced. Among its schools are the
Univ. of Southampton and a teacher-training college.
Southampton is the site of the Roman Clausentum and of the Saxon
Hamtune or Suth-Hamtun. Remains of the ancient town walls and
reworked Norman structures may be seen. The Crusaders under
Richard I, Henry V on his expedition to France (1415), and the
Pilgrims all embarked from Southampton. Until the d