Medieval Churches and the Friary
Southampton's medieval walled town once housed five churches, a Franciscan Friary and a chapel for pilgrims. This walk visits the sites of all these buildings including the two surviving churches (one partly ruined due to World War II bombings), partial remains of the Friary and there is the chance to go inside St Julien's Chapel which being privately owned and on private land is rarely open to the public.
Come and hear tales of disagreements between the Rector of St Mary's and the friars, murder, destruction, execution, Margaret of Anjou (the future wife of King Henry VI); Philip of Spain (later of Armada fame) Italian merchants; a refugee who found safety here and went on to establish, in Hampshire, one of the important industries of the County; and the mysterious ringing of unattended church bells during the World War 2 enemy blitz on the town.
See the oldest brass eagle lectern in England (mid 14th Century) and a fine example of one of only seven and a half black marble Tournai fonts in this Country (mid 12th Century). Let our STGA Guides bring to life, for you, the religious life of Southampton's Old Town from Norman times to the present day.
Southampton's medieval walled town once housed five churches, a Franciscan Friary and a chapel for pilgrims. This walk visits the sites of all these buildings including the two surviving churches (one partly ruined due to World War II bombings), partial remains of the Friary and there is the chance to go inside St Julien's Chapel which being privately owned and on private land is rarely open to the public.
Come and hear tales of disagreements between the Rector of St Mary's and the friars, murder, destruction, execution, Margaret of Anjou (the future wife of King Henry VI); Philip of Spain (later of Armada fame) Italian merchants; a refugee who found safety here and went on to establish, in Hampshire, one of the important industries of the County; and the mysterious ringing of unattended church bells during the World War 2 enemy blitz on the town.
See the oldest brass eagle lectern in England (mid 14th Century) and a fine example of one of only seven and a half black marble Tournai fonts in this Country (mid 12th Century). Let our STGA Guides bring to life, for you, the religious life of Southampton's Old Town from Norman times to the present day.