Medieval Merchant's House

The Medieval Merchant's House on French Street preserves the home and workplace of a Southampton trader at the heart of the medieval port. John Fortin, who traded with Bordeaux, began the building around 1290, combining domestic rooms, commercial space and storage beneath one roof. Restored to its mid-fourteenth-century appearance, the house now uses replica furniture, pottery and furnishings to suggest how its occupants lived. A small courtyard garden adds another glimpse of domestic life, with herbs of the kind used in medieval households. Visitors especially appreciate the helpful staff and the opportunity to understand the rooms through objects that can be handled. This is a compact visit, well suited to a wider exploration of the old town. Check the limited opening days before travelling, and expect steps into the house and a steep, narrow wooden staircase to the upper floor; there is no step-free route throughout.