Nos. 52-56 French Street

Nos. 52-56 French Street. . Southampton City Council has produced a development brief for this site to guide future residential development. As part of the site evaluation they funded an archaeological excavation during 1992 which revealed evidence of three medieval houses. These houses were probably timber-framed throughout, unlike the more substantial stone construction of the Medieval Merchant's House on your left (58 French Street)., The earliest known owner of 56 French Street was Benedict Ace who was the Mayor of Southampton from 1237 to 1249., The houses Nos. 52 and 54 French Street were owned by God's House Hospital which, by the end of the Middle Ages also owned No. 56 French Street. These houses were rented out to people such as fisherfolk, roofers, carpenters and servants., During the 19th century these properties were divided in order to provide housing for the expanding population., All of the buildings on this site were destroyed during a land air raid in the Second World War., The site has remained vacant since the War, however it has been landscaped until development of the whole site is undertaken.