THE Rev J Silvester Davies started to write an incredibly detailed book in 1877 called A History of Southampton, which might be called in today's language a "must" for everyone interested in the city's past.

It was originally intended to update an unpublished history by Dr John Speed, but he found that more than just that was needed, so six years were spent researching facts and presenting them in a readable manner. The result is a treasure-book of knowledge - something of which the citizens of the city can be justly proud, recognised to be a major part of our heritage. It records not merely physical changes taking place, but information about people - the ordinary dweller here, how they lived, what they did, suffered and enjoyed. Not descriptive prose, but the recitations of simple facts like this:

"In 1564, Richard Butler, Mayor, erected two almshouses for sick people or persons sick of the plague, on a plot of land at the north side of St Mary's Churchyard, given to the town by Thomas Lyster in 1536. They appreciated lads who were unskilled, assigned lost children to be brought up in respectable families, parcelled out the aged poor to those who could and would take them, paid weekly sums to needy families, etc. etc.

"John Harris was made Governor of the Workhouse, built for £200 by John Major in 1629 to supervise the habitation of 20 poor children, setting them to work and maintaining them in labour, finding food, bedding and clothing."

You might laugh at this, or even sneer, but factually, he had to catechise them once per week, "soe yt exceede not one houre at one tyme".

The workhouse was pulled down and a hospital erected in its place - with Major Dunch of Baddesley (heir of John Major) helping with the cost. It became the Hospital of St. John and its exact site is believed to be that of the old theatre in French Street.

Snippets of information include 1861 census 46,960, 1881 60,051. Suburbs added 32,203 and 40,950. Total population in 1881 was therefore about 100,000.

We conclude with his words: "... has risen almost without living memory (i.e. 1877) from the sleepiness of a dull town with its 'season' to being one of the prominent features of life in the kingdom, while the beauty of its surroundings, the healthiness of its climate, its convenience for London etc. and many ancient monuments, must always render it an attractive place of residence."

He was referring of course to our home city - Southampton.