Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (18)Southampton
customs officer
Fleming, Richardand
Lewis, Thomas
stage coach
This Town, as Mr. Camden says, was in his Time famous for the Number and Neatness of the Buildings, for the Riches of the Inhabitants, and the great Resort of Merchants; but it is not now in the same flourishing Condition as formerly: For having lost much of its Trade by the Wars with France, and other Accidents, it has also lost many of its Inhabitants. The Merchants great Houses are empty and now falling to the Ground; melancholy Signs of the former Magnificence: Yet here is still a small foreign Trade driven, and Officers employed to take Care of his Majesty's Customs, viz. a Collector, a Customer inward and another outward, a Comptroller, Searcher, and other inferior Officers. The Dock is supposed to be in the Place, where the Roman Fort anciently stood, and a golden Coin was lately dug up thereabouts.
The Streets are spacious, and one of them, which is six furlongs in length, leads directly down to the Dock, in which Ships of considerable Burden may ride. It is a Town and County governed by a Mayor, nine Justices, a Sheriff, two Bailiffs, twenty four Common Council Men, and as many Burgesses, having a Right to choose Members for Parliament, who in this Session are, Richard Fleming and Thomas Lewis Esq; It being a County of it self, it is independent upon the Lord Lieutenant of this Shire, which privilege was given it by King Henry VIII.
Here are three Markets weekly, on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, which much enrich the Town; and two good Fairs on the Feast of St. Mark, and Trinity Monday. Provisions are very plentiful and cheap at them, the Land producing Corn and Pastures, and the Sea many sorts of Fish, as Soles, Lobsters, &c. which are as good here as any where in England. The Assizes are usually kept here, and tho' it be seventy two Miles from London, there has been a Stage Coach for some Years, that has run thro' in a Day all the Summer.
There are five Churches for the Inhabitants, who are not so many at present, but fewer would be sufficient, viz. Holy Cross, St. Michael's, St. John's, St. Laurence, and All hallows, and one for the French, which, with a good Hospital, called God's House, do much adorn the Town.
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