Southampton… in Game of Thrones?

Everybody knows that G.R.R. Martin based the setting of his fantasy betray-’em-up Game of Thrones on the British Isles, but did you know that our very own Southampton features in Westeros too?

Google Maps and the technology to rotate images in Microsoft Paint reveals the truth

Martin has not only plagiarised Mother Nature, but has also included our fair city of Southampton in his books under the name “White Harbor”, which can be seen in a location corresponding almost exactly with the real world city.

The similarities to the Southampton area are many, with the inclusion of the river Itchen, Southampton Water, Portsmouth, and the New Forest, all under different names.

The title of White Harbor as largest trading port city of the ‘the North’ (Great Britain) also matches medieval and modern Southampton.

Even Portsmouth and the New Forest have been included

Below is an artist’s impression of White Harbor (left), alongside a drawing of historical Southampton (right). The similarities between the two cities are obvious, with seal rock representing the Isle of Wight in the Solent (the Bite).

I can see my house from here. It’s on fire…

White Harbor, like any self-respecting city in Westeros, boasts a whacking great castle. While our own castle is less than impressive and mostly rubble, its location at the South-East corner of the city, again, matches White Harbor.

Southampton castle = New Castle?

Credit for pointing out this comparison goes to Reddit user Shyjack, who for some reason also wanted the Soton Tab to credit his soundcloud page JackLeeOfficial. Jack knows in the music industry you’ve gotta hustle.

Have we missed any similarities between the two cities? Just want to spew some abusive bile? Let us know in the comments below!