southampton castle southampton castle located town southampton hampshire england constructed norman conquest england located north west corner town overlooking river test initially wooden bailey design late 12th century royal castle largely converted stone playing important wine trade conducted southampton docks end 13th century castle decline threat french raids led undertake extensive rebuilding result defended castle england equipped cannon castle declined 16th century sold property purposes including construction gothic mansion early 19th century site flattened largely redeveloped elements castle remain visible southampton history 11th 13th centuries constructed late 11th century point norman conquest england southampton time relatively large town significant later medieval period royal castle erected existing town site probable large english hall considerable damage caused surrounding local buildings space opened new fortification town southampton protected water sides surrounded protective ditches banks castle built rising ground north west corner town overlooking mouth river test important medieval initial castle timber bailey design feet metres bailey walls rebuilt stone half 12th century wealthiest parts southampton west town south castle districts castle north east castle positioned town years anarchy stephen fought control england castle held william bishop winchester supporter stephen henry_ii came throne took castle took steps improve condition southampton castle attempt improve general standard security south time southampton considered key fortification classed alongside important castles tower london windsor oxford lincoln winchester second half 12th century valued role coastal defence coastal base operations continent value ensuring internal security following threat french invasion henry_ii invested modest additional resources castle wooden converted stone shell john increased spending castle reign royal visits southampton common additional royal accommodation called built outside castle southampton important trading port 12th century trade routes normandy levant castle played important role trade forming warehouse king imports process managed royal purchases wine particularly important castle stored distributed royal properties south england castle hall turned subterranean vault 13th century probably storing wine 14th 15th centuries southampton major port large provincial town population successful french attack southampton burning buildings damaging castle responded improving quality town defences including building walls old ditch bank defences particularly focusing improving west town little work appears improve castle middle 14th century sat alongside quarter miles town walls castle walls kept separate french successful attack portsmouth commencing new sequence raids english coast course edward richard responded new building programme castles including work southampton castle poor condition owing theft building materials including stone lead citizens town architect rebuilt whilst additional defences added including protective wall appointed castle chaplain paid unusually high wage year reflecting skills military engineer equipped cannon making castles country equipped time cannon unreliable capable reaching relatively short ranges required construction specialist decision driven fears french attack expert guns management artillery retained 15th century manage new weaponry scare french troops successfully attacked town sandwich south coast alert captains given control castle life despite investment castle declining antiquarian describe new early 16th century glory castle large fair strong works site 16th 19th centuries castle began second period decline 16th century money spent repairing castle inner bailey rubbish tip small scale agriculture castle contrast royal castles converted southampton prisons instead built town fish street james sold castle property sold local merchant subsequently built castle played role subsequent english civil war masonry strengthen town walls entrances castle demolished late 18th century remaining castle buildings fell significant disrepair short lived buildings later constructed turn 19th century house constructed lord built mansion gothic style stone remains old known providing famous views town pulled subsequently flattened late 19th century onwards castle site subject considerable development new road upper street built old bailey site local council buildings constructed development continued second world war large parts city castle significantly damaged bombing today fragments medieval castle survive today original site covered modern buildings dominated block flats built remaining castle castle hall castle seen surviving parts south bailey wall castle fragments north wall sequence archaeological investigations excavated total castle area limited work occurred including watching brief excavation carried forest view road
Southampton Castle