List of the oldest buildings in Southampton, Hampshire

Some buildings are prominent and quite obviously from a bygone era, and others hide in what is now a thriving, modern city.

We have compiled a list of some of the oldest buildings in Southampton – all of which are Grade One listed.

This means they are all considered of exceptional national, architectural or historical importance.

The oldest buildings in Southampton

St Michael's Church, 1070

The church in St Michael's Church stands tall in the city centre.

It is the oldest building still in use in Southampton, and is the only church still active of the five that once stood during the medieval times.

St Michael's was initially of a simple cruciform construction with a central tower which can be clearly seen internally and externally. In the early 13th century two chapels were constructed each side of the chancel one of which, the Lady Chapel on the north side, was used from 1677 until 1835 to swear in new Mayors at Michaelmass each year.

Located in the centre of the busy market area of the town with the butchers, bakers and fish market close by the church suffered violence, bloodshed and damage in the raid of October, 1338.

Several wooden buildings attached to the church were set ablaze and townsfolk killed inside the church which had to be reconciled by the Bishop of Sarum the following summer.

King John's Palace, 1170

This familiar sight is a ruined Norman merchant's house.

Many believe it got its name because King John lived here – but that is not the case.

However, it was home to many prominent people including mayors.

The house later became part of the town's defensive wall, facing the sea, and the windows and doors were turned into gun slits.

Bargate, 1180

Perhaps the most well-known building on this list, the Bargate was constructed back in Norman times as part of the Southampton town walls.

It acted as the main gateway to the city, and was the centrepiece of the imposing walls that once wrapped strong fortifications around the area in past centuries.

These fortifications gradually grew, ranging in date from the Norman period to the early 15th century, by which time the medieval town of Southampton was completely encircled by a lofty wall, averaging about 25ft feet to 30ft in height and extending nearly one-and-a-quarter miles in circumference.

The defensive walls formed a rectangle, stretching north and south, following the line of the western shore and rounded off at the southwest corner.

St Julien's Church, 1190

Today the little Chapel of St Julien in Winkle Street is known as the French Church and services are still held there in French.

However, it has had a serious facelift, with the building being extensively restored in 1861 and consists of a stone rubble exterior and tiled roof, with a low square tower.

Inside the church is the Leper's Squint Stoup Monument commemorating those that were executed in the Southampton Plot of 1415, although the monument itself is thought to date from the 19th century.

God's House Gate, 1300

God's House Tower is a late 13th century gatehouse into the old town of Southampton.

Thousands walk and drive past it every day on the south-east corner of the town walls.

Traditionally it permitted access to the town from the Platform and Town Quay.

Now, following a £3.1million refurbishment in 2019, the building hosts a range of events including tours and markets.

Holyrood Church, 1320

Heavily damaged during the Southampton Blitz in 1940, Holyrood Church has been left as a permanent reminder of Southampton's links to the sea.

The remains of the church have been left as a memorial to the merchant navy, including the crew of Titanic.

Inside the shell of the church spire a fountain from 1913, dedicated to the memory of all victims of the sinking stands, having been moved from Old Cemetery.