St Michael's Church Southampton

The Norman tower of St Michael's Church is the oldest building in Southampton and dates from 1070. When it was first built St Michael's was much... more

by Terri Waters

Title

St Michael's Church Southampton

Artist

Terri Waters

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Norman tower of St Michael's Church is the oldest building in Southampton and dates from 1070. When it was first built St Michael's was much smaller than the Church you see today with the tower at the centre of a simple cross shaped building.
Apart from the tower the Church was rebuilt in the twelfth century. Two chapels were added either side of the high altar in the thirteenth century and the north aisle in the century that followed with the south aisle being added in the fifteenth century.
In 1338 a force of Frenchmen and Sicilians landed on a shingle spit near St Michaels Square while the people of Southampton were at mass. The enemy broke into St Michael's church and killed many people including women and children. Those people who could fled to the countryside. They and men from the surrounding area gathered together and prepared to counter-attack. Meanwhile the French burnt many of the houses in Southampton.

Uploaded

September 26th, 2015