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Introduction The history presented here has been gleaned from a number of publications and web sites, I hope that I have acknowledged all my sources! At the end of each section you will find links to pertinent websites and there is a bibliography at the end of the completed history, I have tried to link to sites that will not have a short life and wherever possible those sites are academic. The Southampton area has played an important part in the development of the United Kingdom and of the former British Empire so in this history of Peartree Green there will be many aspects of local history that I will not mention or only give a passing glance at. There are many excellent on line sources and I will put these in the Peartree Links section. Early Years Until around 6000 BC Britain was joined to the rest of Europe but with the melting of unimaginable volumes of ice the sea level rose until the North Sea and English Channel were formed. At the same time the Isle of Wight was formed thanks to which the port of Southampton is well protected and has two tides each day. It is very likely that the high ground, known as the Ridgeway, that runs from Bitterne in the north and terminates at Peartree Green would have been used by early peoples as a relatively safe means of movement along the lower reaches of the Itchen Valley. Indeed, evidence that Peartree Green was occupied in the Middle Bronze Age in the form of axe heads was found in 1894. Contemporary graves were also uncovered about a mile upstream at Bitterne. The Romans, under Julius Caesar, nominally subjugated South East England in 55BC after an unsuccessful attempt in the previous year but a full scale invasion did not take place until A.D.43 during the reign of the Claudius. The invaders made Winchester (Venta Belgarum) their regional capital. In order to supply their legions the Romans established a supply base on a bend in the river just north of Peartree Green, this promontory was in an ideal position to be defended from seaborne threats. Two banks and a ditch were a defence against threats from the land and roads were constructed linking the base with Chichester to the east and Winchester some 10 miles to the north. By AD 70 the base had become known as Clausentum and evidence shows that it was major channel for both imports and exports, with British lead being found in Germany and France. By the middle of the third century AD the Romans in Britain were under attack from continental tribes as well as having to face unrest within the Empire and this led to a drastic increase in defenses. Clausentum became a well defended fort with a substantial stone and flint wall but by the beginning of the fifth century the Roman Empire was falling apart and the legions were recalled to defend Rome. Roman Connections: Romans on the Itchen The Roman Army in Britain Clausentum from the air The Saxons As far as Britain is concerned there is very little documentary evidence as to what life was like from the fourth century until the seventh. It is then that we see the emergence of what was to become England in the central and southern parts of the country. Southampton became the major port for Wessex which was roughly the area covered by Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire and by the tenth century the kings of Wessex managed to defeat the Vikings, deal with the Danes and unify the whole of England. This Saxon port was not at Clausentum but on the west bank of the Itchen and downstream of the Roman stronghold, it was known as Hamwih (Hamwic) and is thought to have been one of the biggest towns in England and the most important port for trade with the continent. It is interesting to note that the river is now much narrower and its west bank is considerably further east than during the Saxon period. It also appears that there were no quays or jetties and that ships must have been pulled above the tide line. There seems to be no evidence of Saxon activity around Peartree Green but if the area was used for agriculture, forestry or fishery then one would not expect much in the way of remains. Saxons were certainly active at Clausentum as graves and artifacts have been uncovered there. Saxon Connections: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles The Anglo-Saxon Kings Who Were the Saxons? A Saxon Fishery Medieval Southampton: By the arrival of William on these shores in 1066, Southampton had shifted its position west and south of the Saxon town which had been abandoned, possibly because the river had silted up leaving the town high and dry. The new site was also easier to defend against the rapacious attacks of the Danes who plundered Southampton throughout the 10th century and the early part of the 11th. Undoubtedly, the relative wealth that attracted the Danes to these shores was instrumental in William's decision to invade England. After the Battle of Hastings, William's troops laid waste to the town and most of the surrounding area and Southampton declined, as Winchester was no longer important to the new regime. With the death of King Stephen in 1154 and the rise of Anjou, Southampton's importance as a trade centre began to improve. The main export was wool which was sent south to St Malo, Nantes, Bordeaux and north to Antwerp and beyond. Imports included wine, stone, timber, cloth and luxury goods. At the time of the Conquest, Southampton's buildings were predominantly of wood. The town had no artificial defences but was defended by water, mud and salt marsh on three sides. It was not until the 13th century that ramparts were raised and a defendable limit put to the town and by mid century the town had developed to a point that was to last for some 400 years. Looking at a street plan of the late Middle Ages a 21st century visitor would have no problem finding his or her way around, indeed a number of street names still exist. By the 15th century Southampton's trade routes had expanded south to Cadiz and throughout the Mediterranean to Genoa and Venice. Timber and fur were imported from Danzig and further north. The southern expansion allowed the importation of luxury goods such as spices, silk and glass. Southampton played an important part in the wars and adventures of the Middle Ages. Its fortunes rose and fell with that of the nation and monarchy. In the 16th century, wars were waged against almost everyone, the French, Spanish & Scots particularly! Whatever was happening on Peartree Green and in the surrounding area during the Middle Ages has been lost to us but we do know that Peartree House was built by Francis Moyles around 1600 and is still there today. Medieval Connections: Norman Southampton The Norman Conquest The Norman World Anglo-Norman Buildings Medieval Southampton Medieval English Towns The above forms the backdrop to the history of Peartree Green which enters the written records with the 17th century. Use the links on the left hand menu to continue this history.