In 1338 Southampton was raided by French forces, the town's defences proved inadequate, prompting Edward III to order immediate improvements to the town walls.It was not until the 1360s that substantial work began. Over the coming decades the town was entirely enclosed by a 2 km (1.25-mile) long stone wall, with 29 towers and eight gates. With the advent of gunpowder weapons in the 1360s and 1370s, Southampton was one of the first towns in England to install the new technology to existing fortifications and to build new towers specifically to house cannon.

Southampton's town walls remained an important defensive feature during the 15th century, the gatehouses sometimes being used as important civic facilities, including acting as the town's guildhall and housing the town's gaol. From the end of the 17th century their importance steadily declined and the walls were slowly demolished or adapted for other uses throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. This process continued into the early 20th century until, in the post-war years, the walls were recognised as an important historical feature of Southampton. Conservation projects have since occurred and the walls are now promoted as a tourist attraction.

See Wikipedia for full details.

Number Title Added
  The Old Walls The Old Walls 1 March 2019
105  -  The West Gate, Southampton 105 The West Gate, Southampton 9 February 2022
105  -  The Westgate, Southampton 105 The Westgate, Southampton 23 February 2017
1597  -  God's House Gate, Southampton 1597 God's House Gate, Southampton 18 November 2013
1625  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 1625 The Old Walls, Southampton 13 July 2013
1625  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 1625 The Old Walls, Southampton 2 August 2019
1745  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 1745 The Old Walls, Southampton 1 January 2022
1957  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 1957 The Old Walls, Southampton 24 April 2011
1957  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 1957 The Old Walls, Southampton 23 March 2017
491  -  Old Walls, Southampton 491 Old Walls, Southampton 9 June 2011
491  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 491 The Old Walls, Southampton 11 May 2014
607  -  The OId Walls 607 The OId Walls 23 November 2013
608  -  Southampton West Gate 608 Southampton West Gate 12 October 2019
649  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 649 The Old Walls, Southampton 29 May 2011
649  -  The Old Walls, Southampton 649 The Old Walls, Southampton 28 October 2016