Southampton (England) is a city in Hampshire, southern England, nearby the head of Southampton Water (an inlet of the English Channel), on the Itchen and Test rivers. Southampton is the leading trading port within the southern coast of England. It has passenger traffic to the Continent, but its transatlantic passenger traffic has declined. The principal industries are shipbuilding and the production of motor vehicles. Interesting attractions include King John's Palace (12th century), the 14th-century gates of the Norman town walls, and also Southampton Art Gallery. The city is the seat of the University of Southampton (1862) along with a 16th-century grammar school. The Roman settlement of Clausentum and the later Saxon town of Hamwih were found on the site. In the Middle Ages Southampton was an important English port. It became an elegant resort throughout the 18th century. During World War II the main harbour was heavily destroyed.
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