The morning mist clung to the River Test as the sun struggled to pierce through the gloom.

It was Sunday, October 4th, 1338, a day that dawned like any other in the port town of Southampton.

The devout among the townsfolk, still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, made their way to morning mass, their footsteps echoing on the cobbled streets.

Others, perhaps less inclined towards piety, began their day, unaware of the silent menace approaching their shores.

Unbeknownst to the inhabitants of Southampton, a formidable force was stealthily navigating the waters of the Solent.

A private armada, fifty ships strong, had been assembled under the auspices of the French King. 

Galleys, sleek and swift, hailed from Picardy and Normandy, their oarsmen driven by the promise of plunder. 

Vessels from Spain and Genoa, laden with men eager for battle, joined the flotilla, their sails billowing in the wind. This was not a mission of diplomacy; it was a mission of war.

As the church bells tolled the hour of nine, the enemy fleet, a dark stain on the horizon, slipped past the mouth of the River Itchen. 

With chilling precision, they turned their prows towards the unsuspecting town, their hulls scraping the sandy shores of Southampton. 

One of the most prosperous ports in King Edward III's realm, a vital hub for trade and a symbol of English power, was about to be caught in a devastating surprise attack.

The tranquillity of the Sabbath morning was shattered as the invaders swarmed ashore. 

A wave of violence and terror engulfed the town, leaving no corner untouched. Homes and shops were ransacked, their valuables snatched by greedy hands. 

The air filled with the screams of the terrified and the dying. The King's own stores of wine, destined for the royal table, were plundered without mercy.

Contemporary chronicles paint a grim picture of the carnage that unfolded. Rape and pillage became the order of the day. 

Buildings were set ablaze, their flames licking at the sky, casting an eerie glow over the once-peaceful town. Southampton, on that fateful Sunday, experienced its own "Bloody Sunday," a day of infamy etched forever in its history.

Years later, during archaeological excavations in Maddison Street, a chilling discovery was made.

A mass grave hastily dug and filled with the skeletal remains of those who perished in the attack, served as a stark reminder of the brutality of the raid. 

Some historians speculate that these were the remains of the French marauders, cut down in the heat of battle.

The following day, October 5th, saw Southampton rise from the ashes, its citizens fueled by a thirst for revenge.

They struck back with a ferocity that surprised their attackers, driving them back to their ships. 

The victory was sweet, but the cost had been immense. Lives had been lost, homes reduced to smouldering rubble, and the town's wealth plundered. 

The psychological scars ran deep.

News of the disaster reached King Edward III, who was enraged by the breach of his kingdom's defences. He dispatched the Earl of Arundel to Southampton, tasking him with uncovering the cause of the town's vulnerability.

The King demanded to know who was responsible for the failure to protect one of his most important ports.

In the aftermath of the attack, Southampton was transformed into a garrison town. By February 1339, a contingent of 100 archers and 50 men-at-arms had been deployed to bolster the town's defences. 

In March, King Edward himself arrived in Southampton, his gaze sweeping over the ravaged town. He inspected the existing fortifications, his brow furrowed in concern. Clearly, he was not satisfied with the level of protection afforded to his realm.

The King decreed that Southampton be fortified with a formidable wall of stone and lime, encircling the town and its surrounding areas. 

While walls and a castle had existed since Norman times, they primarily protected the landward side, leaving the town exposed to attacks from the sea.

Under the King's command, construction began on a series of imposing arches, designed to reinforce the town's defenses.

These arches, known today as the Arcades, stand as proof to the determination of the townsfolk to protect their home. They are a striking feature of Southampton's old town walls, a reminder of the town's resilience in the face of adversity.

The West Gate, a magnificent structure that still stands today, also dates back to this period. In 1346, King Edward III himself, accompanied by his formidable longbowmen, marched through this very gate on their way to France.

Their destination: the Battle of Crecy, a pivotal moment in the Hundred Years' War. 

Seventy years later, the young King Henry V, another warrior king, led his troops through the West Gate, their footsteps echoing those of their predecessors, as they embarked on their own campaign of conquest that would culminate in the legendary Battle of Agincourt.

The French raid of 1338, a dark chapter in Southampton's history, ultimately led to the strengthening of the town's defences.

The walls, the Arcades, and the West Gate, all born from the ashes of that devastating attack, stand as enduring symbols of the town's indomitable spirit.

They are a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, courage and resilience can prevail.