During the Middle Ages, <answer>shipbuilding</answer> became an important industry for the town. Henry V's famous warship HMS Grace Dieu was built in Southampton. Walter Taylor's 18th century mechanisation of the block-making process was a significant step in the Industrial Revolution. From 1904 to 2004, the Thornycroft <answer>shipbuilding</answer> yard was a major employer in Southampton, building and repairing ships used in the two World Wars.
What skilled trade was a central industry for Southampton in the Middle Ages?
shipbuilding