Historic Southampton
@historicalsoton.bsky.social
I’m Russell and local history is my hobby.
John Everett Millais was born on Portland Street in Southampton on 8 June 1829. He was baptised in All Saints’ Church on the corner of Southampton High Street and East Street in the December of that year. Most of his early childhood was spent in Jersey.
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February 17, 2026 at 9:22 AM
John Everett Millais was born on Portland Street in Southampton on 8 June 1829. He was baptised in All Saints’ Church on the corner of Southampton High Street and East Street in the December of that year. Most of his early childhood was spent in Jersey.
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Looking across the River Itchen towards Woolston in the late nineteenth century.
February 15, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Looking across the River Itchen towards Woolston in the late nineteenth century.
Bowling Green House was built in the 1840s with windows overlooking the Old Bowling Green, where the game of bowls has been played since at least 1299.
This is a long thread about the building’s association with Southampton’s Italian community.
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This is a long thread about the building’s association with Southampton’s Italian community.
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February 14, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Bowling Green House was built in the 1840s with windows overlooking the Old Bowling Green, where the game of bowls has been played since at least 1299.
This is a long thread about the building’s association with Southampton’s Italian community.
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This is a long thread about the building’s association with Southampton’s Italian community.
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The wall here on Blue Anchor Lane was built in the twelfth century. The wooden door isn’t as old as that but it features some interesting graffiti from the 1930s and 1940s.
February 13, 2026 at 9:01 AM
The wall here on Blue Anchor Lane was built in the twelfth century. The wooden door isn’t as old as that but it features some interesting graffiti from the 1930s and 1940s.
Oriental Terrace was a narrow alley with seventeen terraced houses on its north side. It ran from Southampton High Street to Back of the Walls.
Three Titanic crew members listed Oriental Terrace as their address in 1912.
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Three Titanic crew members listed Oriental Terrace as their address in 1912.
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February 12, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Oriental Terrace was a narrow alley with seventeen terraced houses on its north side. It ran from Southampton High Street to Back of the Walls.
Three Titanic crew members listed Oriental Terrace as their address in 1912.
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Three Titanic crew members listed Oriental Terrace as their address in 1912.
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The Harbour Board office at Town Quay was declared open by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe on 8 September 1925. Jellicoe, who was born in Southampton in 1859, had commanded the British Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
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February 11, 2026 at 9:12 AM
The Harbour Board office at Town Quay was declared open by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe on 8 September 1925. Jellicoe, who was born in Southampton in 1859, had commanded the British Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
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The construction of Southampton Civic Centre’s clock tower in the 1930s.
February 10, 2026 at 7:54 AM
The construction of Southampton Civic Centre’s clock tower in the 1930s.
In June 1872, six vessels from the U.S. Navy’s European Squadron sailed up Southampton Water to make an official visit to the town. Thirsty American sailors certainly enjoyed their visit to Southampton and its many pubs, although one of them did get stabbed by a group of Italians…
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February 7, 2026 at 8:21 AM
In June 1872, six vessels from the U.S. Navy’s European Squadron sailed up Southampton Water to make an official visit to the town. Thirsty American sailors certainly enjoyed their visit to Southampton and its many pubs, although one of them did get stabbed by a group of Italians…
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Southampton West railway station (now called Southampton Central) with its landmark clock tower in the early 1900s. This view looks west, with the West Bay shoreline visible on the left.
February 6, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Southampton West railway station (now called Southampton Central) with its landmark clock tower in the early 1900s. This view looks west, with the West Bay shoreline visible on the left.
Edgar Eels sent this postcard to his parents from Southampton during the First World War whilst serving with the Army Service Corps.
‘Southampton Monday Night
Dear Mother + Father,
Just a word to say that we are leaving here tomorrow (Tuesday) morning for overseas…
‘Southampton Monday Night
Dear Mother + Father,
Just a word to say that we are leaving here tomorrow (Tuesday) morning for overseas…
February 5, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Edgar Eels sent this postcard to his parents from Southampton during the First World War whilst serving with the Army Service Corps.
‘Southampton Monday Night
Dear Mother + Father,
Just a word to say that we are leaving here tomorrow (Tuesday) morning for overseas…
‘Southampton Monday Night
Dear Mother + Father,
Just a word to say that we are leaving here tomorrow (Tuesday) morning for overseas…
Frank Parsons was born in Southampton in 1885. By 1911 he was living next door to the Duke of Wellington at 38 Bugle Street with his wife, Edith. They got married in 1910, the same year he joined the White Star Line. In April 1912, Parsons joined Titanic’s crew as an engineer.
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February 4, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Frank Parsons was born in Southampton in 1885. By 1911 he was living next door to the Duke of Wellington at 38 Bugle Street with his wife, Edith. They got married in 1910, the same year he joined the White Star Line. In April 1912, Parsons joined Titanic’s crew as an engineer.
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Shirley High Street in the early 1900s. The water fountain was erected in 1889 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee two years earlier. In 1911 the tram terminus was extended to a point beside the fountain, and it began to get in the way.
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February 3, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Shirley High Street in the early 1900s. The water fountain was erected in 1889 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee two years earlier. In 1911 the tram terminus was extended to a point beside the fountain, and it began to get in the way.
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Southampton lad Ray Wheeler was a Royal Air Force Coastal Command wireless operator. On 8 August 1940 he was based at RAF Calshot and joined the crew of a high speed launch (HSL116) on a mission to search for survivors of Luftwaffe attacks in the English Channel.
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January 31, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Southampton lad Ray Wheeler was a Royal Air Force Coastal Command wireless operator. On 8 August 1940 he was based at RAF Calshot and joined the crew of a high speed launch (HSL116) on a mission to search for survivors of Luftwaffe attacks in the English Channel.
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Reposted by Historic Southampton
No spoilers but comfortably the most interesting interment at the graveyard around the corner from my old house
The original memorial stone for Richard Parker, now located inside Pear Tree Church, Southampton. Parker was a 17-year-old cabin boy on board the yacht Mingonette, which was wrecked in the Indian Ocean on a voyage from Southampton to Australia on 5 July 1884.
Long post, story in screenshots:
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Long post, story in screenshots:
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January 24, 2026 at 9:53 AM
No spoilers but comfortably the most interesting interment at the graveyard around the corner from my old house
Class 6B at Central School in 1919. My great-grandfather, William Henry Masters, is kneeling in the second row from the front with his arms folded, above the VI.
January 30, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Class 6B at Central School in 1919. My great-grandfather, William Henry Masters, is kneeling in the second row from the front with his arms folded, above the VI.
King George III died on this day in 1820. This statue of George (dressed as a Roman emperor) was given to the town by the Marquess of Lansdowne in 1809. It has stood above the Bargate’s main archway ever since.
January 29, 2026 at 11:41 AM
King George III died on this day in 1820. This statue of George (dressed as a Roman emperor) was given to the town by the Marquess of Lansdowne in 1809. It has stood above the Bargate’s main archway ever since.
This memorial remembers the eight musicians who lost their lives in the Titanic disaster after famously playing on as the ship sank. It’s a replica of the 1913 original, which was located inside the public library. Sadly, the original memorial and the library were destroyed in the 1940 Blitz.
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January 28, 2026 at 7:50 AM
This memorial remembers the eight musicians who lost their lives in the Titanic disaster after famously playing on as the ship sank. It’s a replica of the 1913 original, which was located inside the public library. Sadly, the original memorial and the library were destroyed in the 1940 Blitz.
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This old photo of London Road comes from a postcard sent by Hilda to her cousin in 1905. Hilda writes: ‘It is a photo of the shop where I am at business. Only it does not look half large enough on here.’ Sadly, London Road was badly bombed during the Blitz thirty-five years later.
January 27, 2026 at 7:51 AM
This old photo of London Road comes from a postcard sent by Hilda to her cousin in 1905. Hilda writes: ‘It is a photo of the shop where I am at business. Only it does not look half large enough on here.’ Sadly, London Road was badly bombed during the Blitz thirty-five years later.
Article from the Echo, 2 Nov 1901.
How times have changed!
‘Whenever the Saints and Portsmouth oppose each other the sparks fly. With these two the only senior teams in Hampshire a spirit of keen rivalry must inevitably ensue, but in this case the rivalry is perfectly healthy and friendly.
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How times have changed!
‘Whenever the Saints and Portsmouth oppose each other the sparks fly. With these two the only senior teams in Hampshire a spirit of keen rivalry must inevitably ensue, but in this case the rivalry is perfectly healthy and friendly.
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January 25, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Article from the Echo, 2 Nov 1901.
How times have changed!
‘Whenever the Saints and Portsmouth oppose each other the sparks fly. With these two the only senior teams in Hampshire a spirit of keen rivalry must inevitably ensue, but in this case the rivalry is perfectly healthy and friendly.
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How times have changed!
‘Whenever the Saints and Portsmouth oppose each other the sparks fly. With these two the only senior teams in Hampshire a spirit of keen rivalry must inevitably ensue, but in this case the rivalry is perfectly healthy and friendly.
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The original memorial stone for Richard Parker, now located inside Pear Tree Church, Southampton. Parker was a 17-year-old cabin boy on board the yacht Mingonette, which was wrecked in the Indian Ocean on a voyage from Southampton to Australia on 5 July 1884.
Long post, story in screenshots:
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Long post, story in screenshots:
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January 24, 2026 at 9:15 AM
The original memorial stone for Richard Parker, now located inside Pear Tree Church, Southampton. Parker was a 17-year-old cabin boy on board the yacht Mingonette, which was wrecked in the Indian Ocean on a voyage from Southampton to Australia on 5 July 1884.
Long post, story in screenshots:
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Long post, story in screenshots:
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A birthday postcard from Albert Brier to his son, Rodney, from Hazeley Down Camp near Twyford, sent on 24 May 1916. Albert embarked for France on 18 July 1916; he would be wounded by a gas shell in September 1917 and shot in the heel in April 1918.
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January 22, 2026 at 7:45 AM
A birthday postcard from Albert Brier to his son, Rodney, from Hazeley Down Camp near Twyford, sent on 24 May 1916. Albert embarked for France on 18 July 1916; he would be wounded by a gas shell in September 1917 and shot in the heel in April 1918.
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The Bargate in the 1930s.
January 18, 2026 at 8:32 AM
The Bargate in the 1930s.
Here’s the remarkable story of a Southampton-based man who was imprisoned in Germany for spying on the Imperial German Navy in 1911. He also once got shot during a quarrel on Southampton High Street!
Because of Bluesky’s character limit, I have added screenshots of the post from Facebook:
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Because of Bluesky’s character limit, I have added screenshots of the post from Facebook:
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January 17, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Here’s the remarkable story of a Southampton-based man who was imprisoned in Germany for spying on the Imperial German Navy in 1911. He also once got shot during a quarrel on Southampton High Street!
Because of Bluesky’s character limit, I have added screenshots of the post from Facebook:
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Because of Bluesky’s character limit, I have added screenshots of the post from Facebook:
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The former workhouse on St Mary Street. The first workhouse on this site dated back to the 1770s but in 1863 it was condemned by a Poor Law inspector who described it as ‘totally inadequate’ for the housing of the poor.
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January 16, 2026 at 7:44 AM
The former workhouse on St Mary Street. The first workhouse on this site dated back to the 1770s but in 1863 it was condemned by a Poor Law inspector who described it as ‘totally inadequate’ for the housing of the poor.
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D Block was a military psychiatric hospital located behind high walls at the rear of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.
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January 13, 2026 at 7:50 AM
D Block was a military psychiatric hospital located behind high walls at the rear of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.
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