Southampton City is 60

On 24 February 1964, Southampton was granted a royal charter, which designated it as the City and County of the City of Southampton.

The first informal proposals for city status emerged in the mid-1930s.

It was proposed that Southampton, amongst other towns, should be elevated to city status to honour the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935.

The Second World War and the austerity that followed delayed the next application until September 1958, when a petition was prepared for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The main reasons cited for seeking city status included

• The growth in size and population of the town
• Its increasing importance in the shipping world and within the country’s economy
• Its long history of public administration
• The efficiency of its municipal services
• Its record of voluntary service and public service.

Other factors included

• The practice of charity
• The preservation of historical records and customs
• The fostering of a true sense of citizenship

To celebrate, we've rounded up 60 fun facts about Southampton since 1964! Read our dedicated blog post here.

Southampton has a long and rich history with a wealth of written material cared for within the city’s Archives.

It has received around 30 royal grants of rights and privileges from the 12th century to the present.

During medieval times it was the third most important port in England and enjoyed a prosperous and varied commercial life.

In the 19th and 20th century its role in shipping was world-renowned.

But it did not become a city until 1964.

The Council's Archive team have created a webpage of unseen documents and photographs from the last 60 years, including the Royal charters.

The charter itself, (pictured opposite), along with examples of some of Southampton’s charters (going back to 1199) can be seen in this selection of items from their online catalogue.

Highlights from a collection of photographs shown at the Ordnance Survey Photographic Society exhibition ‘Southampton in the Sixties’ can also be viewed. These photographs mostly date from 1962-1963 and show a variety of scenes and activities in the town, just before it became a city.

View the collection here 

SEE Southampton Heritage Guides marked the 60th anniversary of City Status with a walking tour of Medieval Southampton and wine vaults on Saturday 24 February.

At Visit Southampton, we're also celebrating with 60 fun facts about the city from 1964 - 2024. Read it here.

You can also download a free children's activity sheet here.