Southampton Town Wall, Southampton (must see)

Southampton has a long history of defending itself, stretching all the way back to Roman times. But in 1338, when French forces attacked and raided the town, it became clear that its existing defenses simply weren't strong enough.

In the 1360s, work began to strengthen and extend the town walls. Eventually, they formed a complete defensive circuit around Southampton, stretching for about 1.25 miles. The walls included 29 towers and eight gates, creating a formidable barrier against potential attackers. Some of the towers were later adapted to accommodate cannons, which were still a relatively new form of weaponry in the late Middle Ages.

Throughout the 15th century, the walls continued to play an important role in protecting the town. But as military technology advanced, they gradually lost their defensive purpose. By the 18th century, many sections had fallen into disrepair, and some were eventually demolished. Fortunately, preservation efforts in more recent times have helped save much of what remains.

Today, you can still see roughly half of Southampton's original medieval walls, along with 13 of the 29 towers and six of the eight gates.

One of the most interesting surviving structures is God's House Tower, standing beside God's House Gate in the southeastern part of the old town. This three-story tower was among the earliest purpose-built urban fortifications in England designed to accommodate gunpowder weapons. Another notable survivor is Arundel Tower, located along the northern section of the western walls.

And don't miss the Arcades, a distinctive feature of the western walls. Here, you'll find a series of large stone arches, added in the 14th century to strengthen the earlier walls dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Their unusual design makes it one of the most recognizable sections of Southampton's medieval defenses.

Together, these surviving walls, towers, and gateways provide a fascinating glimpse into the days when Southampton was a fortified medieval port, constantly preparing to defend itself against attacks from the sea.