It has been an important port since the Roman occupation of Britain nearly two thousand years ago, and has a multifaceted history.

From the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century, it was a centre for naval shipbuilding and a departure point for soldiers going to war.

The port also played a role in the development of hovercraft, flying boat services, seaplanes and the Spitfire fighter plane.

[1] The port traded with France, Greece and the Middle East, exporting wool and importing wines and fine pottery.

[1] A large number of Norman immigrants arrived after the conquest, and English and French quarters developed in the town.

She was more than two hundred feet (61 m) long, with a displacement of around 2,750 tons (tonnes) (making her similar in size but different in appearance from HMS Victory).

[9] Trade gradually increased, and soon the port was handling wine and fruit from Spain and Portugal; grain from Ireland and eastern England; woollen stockings from the Channel Islands; slate and building stone from Scotland; coal from Newcastle and Scotland, and timber from the Baltics.

The original wooden Royal Victoria Pier was opened in 1833, and provided berthing facilities at all tidal depths.

When ships grew larger still, a floating dry dock was ordered from Armstrong Whitworth in Newcastle.

To use the facility, seawater would be allowed into its internal tanks to partially submerge it; a ship sailed in and the water would be pumped out.

West of the dry dock, a container port was developed from 1965 with the first quays opening a couple of years later.

Express freight trains enabled produce landing at Southampton in the morning to be on sale in London fruit markets in the afternoon: Dock facilities: The King George (No.

[19] Southampton's archaeology museum was built into the city wall on the south shore in 1417 as a military fortification.

To the west of the city wall, where the originals would have been moored, there is a replica of a wide-beamed cargo boat that was used for shipping wine and wool during the 14th century, set into the pavement and may be viewed at any time.

Aircraft technology improved, and in 1937 Imperial Airways began service to East and South Africa and the United States.

There was later additional service to destinations including Australia, Tokyo, Karachi, Singapore and Hong Kong.

From his experiences with seaplanes Reginald J. Mitchell became chief designer of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter, which played a prominent role in World War II.

It is the country's only facility equipped to accept all military vehicles from army bases (by rail or road) and load them on ships destined for war zones.

[27] From 1904 to 2004 the John I. Thornycroft shipyard occupied a large site in Woolston, at the eastern mouth of the Itchen, building warships for the Royal Navy and others; the company was particularly busy before and during the two World Wars.

Ship classes built in Woolston include: Cross-channel passenger steamers had moved from the Royal Pier to the Outer and Inner Docks when the latter opened.

The area includes shops, homes, offices, bars, restaurants, a multiplex and an art house cinema designed to resemble an ocean liner.

They primarily worked as charters to Vosper Thornycroft, transporting workers from the Isle of Wight to the Woolston shipyard.

They were Cirrus 120P surface effect ships, built in Norway by Brødrene Aa Båtbyggeri, carrying up to 330 passengers at a speed of 50 knots.

A smaller backup craft, the Wight Prince, was also leased: a Dutch-built Seaswift 23 with a capacity of 99 passengers at 36 knots.

Service was reliable and popular; however, its Southampton terminal was leased from ABP (owner of rival Red Funnel).

Competitive fares and service brought Cowes Express a larger share of the foot-passenger market than Red Funnel; the latter raised its rent, bankrupting the company in spring 1992.

[33] A 22-mile (35 km)-long canal linked Redbridge (at the western end of the port area) with Romsey, Stockbridge and Andover from 1790 to 1859.

Here, a horse-drawn railway was constructed to bring goods to the existing road and the last few miles were completed by wagon.

But soon this defect their sage noddles supply'd, For they cut a snug ditch to run close by its side.

From the tidal area of the Itchen at Woodmill Bridge the river route continues to Winchester, nine miles (14 km) upstream.