Kingsland is an area to the east of the modern city centre, bounded by North Front, South Front, Palmerston Road and St Mary Street. In the medieval period it was open ground belonging to the crown, hence its name. In the 12th century it was given by Richard I to St Denys Priory and in the 13th century it was purchased by the town. It is not known for what purpose the land was then used, but it seems that at least part of it was covered in orchards as there are references to cider making. From the early 19th century the area was developed into a criss-cross of streets with terraces of back-to-back houses providing accommodation for working people. Most of the buildings were demolished in the 1930s as part of a slum clearance scheme and were replaced by modern blocks of flats after World War Two.
Further reading:
Southampton Occasional Notes, 2nd Series by ‘Townsman’, p31. (HS/h)
History of Southampton Vol 1, by A. Temple Patterson, p137, 140-141. (HS/h)
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