Romsey lies in the lower Test valley and this book charts the development of Romsey through from the time before the last Ice Age, through the later stone ages, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman times. The town was firmly established in the Saxon times of the 6th or 7th centuries. In the 10th century an abbey of nuns was opened that was to last for over 500 years. The town grew around the abbey, but also was important for its cloth dyeing and finishing operations. After the abbey was closed, the townsfolk bought the church from Henry VIII which is still the parish church. The book then follows the history of the town from 1539 through its various ups and down and shows how the modern town evolved. It is divided into three parts, everything up to the end of the middle ages, the 16th to the 19th centuries and the last third of the book is devoted to 20th century Romsey. The book is a useful introduction to the history of Romsey.