SOUTHAMPTON, south-amp'ton or sufh hamp'ton, England, an important seaport town, county and Parliamentary borough in Hamp shire, 71 miles southwest of London, on the innermost angle of the SOUTHAMPTON-WATF14. Other streams almost surround the town, which occupies an acclivity and consists of two dis tinct parts. The walls of the older part, belong ing to the Middle Ages, traverse the centre of the town and divide it from the modern por tion. The gates of this ancient wall are quite remarkable; Bargate is embattled and machio lated and contains in its upper part the Guild Hall. Saint Michael's is an old Norman church with some fine stained glass and delicate traceries and a lofty tower. Domus Dei is an ancient hospital of the 12th century, whose chapel was for some time used by French Protestant refugees. The Royal Victoria Hos pital is about six miles from the town at Netley near the ruins of a celebrated abbey. It was founded by Queen Victoria for soldiers of the foreign service, as well as those nearer home, at a cost of $1,750,000. A medical school is at tached to it, for the preparation of surgeons for the army medical staff ; it is also head quarters for women army-nurses who are trained here for their profession. Other build
ings are Holyrood and Saint Mary's churches, the town-hall, custom-house, Watts Memorial Hall, Philharmonic Hall, assembly-rooms, ord nance survey offices, baths, etc. Literary insti tutions include the free library and grammar school (1550) ; Trade School; Hartley College, founded for the advancement of the natural sciences, archaeology, classical and Oriental literature and connected with the schools of Art and Science at South Kensington ; Poly technicum, Athenaeum and theatres. The docks are extensive (250 acres) and the harbor one of the finest in the world. The Prince of Wales' dock is the largest single dock extant. There are carriage manufactories, machine works, breweries and distilleries, ship-building and a cattle market. The trade of the port is enormous. The imports are corn, meat, cheese, fruit, coffee, sugar, cattle, wool, hides and wood. The exports are cotton manufactures, leather, hats, hardware, books and clothes. There are fine parks in the town and South ampton Common, nearby, is a large tract which contains the race-track. Squthampton was founded by the Saxons and preserves much of its antique character. Pop. about 120,000.