Historic Southampton
@historicalsoton.bsky.social
I’m Russell and local history is my hobby.
On this day in 1120, the White Ship sank en route from Barfleur to Southampton. William Ætheling, King Henry I’s only legitimate son and heir to the throne, drowned whilst trying to save his half-sister, Matilda of Perche, who also perished.
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November 25, 2025 at 9:10 AM
On this day in 1120, the White Ship sank en route from Barfleur to Southampton. William Ætheling, King Henry I’s only legitimate son and heir to the throne, drowned whilst trying to save his half-sister, Matilda of Perche, who also perished.
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On this day in 1940, the Luftwaffe inflicted upon Southampton the heaviest bombing raid of the town’s war so far with a sustained and brutal six-hour raid that began just after 6pm. The German bombers would return on 30 November and 1 December.
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November 23, 2025 at 8:23 AM
On this day in 1940, the Luftwaffe inflicted upon Southampton the heaviest bombing raid of the town’s war so far with a sustained and brutal six-hour raid that began just after 6pm. The German bombers would return on 30 November and 1 December.
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On this day in 1885 Southampton Football Club played their first game, beating local side Freemantle 5-1. The Hants Advertiser reported that St Mary's Young Men’s Association football team ‘showed that they have among their members the material with which to form a fairly strong club with practice.’
November 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
On this day in 1885 Southampton Football Club played their first game, beating local side Freemantle 5-1. The Hants Advertiser reported that St Mary's Young Men’s Association football team ‘showed that they have among their members the material with which to form a fairly strong club with practice.’
HMHS Britannic sank on this day in 1916. She had left Southampton on 12 November but hit a mine in the Aegean Sea nine days later. Thirty people died. Among the survivors were Violet Jessop, Arthur Priest, and Archie Jewell, who had all survived the sinking of Britannic’s sister, Titanic, in 1912.
November 21, 2025 at 9:12 AM
HMHS Britannic sank on this day in 1916. She had left Southampton on 12 November but hit a mine in the Aegean Sea nine days later. Thirty people died. Among the survivors were Violet Jessop, Arthur Priest, and Archie Jewell, who had all survived the sinking of Britannic’s sister, Titanic, in 1912.
12 Rockstone Place. This attractive Regency-style end of terrace house doesn’t look like it has changed much since it was built in the 1830s but it was actually damaged in the Blitz. Happily, unlike many other lost buildings in Southampton, it was restored rather than demolished.
November 19, 2025 at 9:15 AM
12 Rockstone Place. This attractive Regency-style end of terrace house doesn’t look like it has changed much since it was built in the 1830s but it was actually damaged in the Blitz. Happily, unlike many other lost buildings in Southampton, it was restored rather than demolished.
Looking across Southampton towards Woolston in the 1970s.
November 17, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Looking across Southampton towards Woolston in the 1970s.
HMS Woolston in 1919. The W-class destroyer was built by Thornycroft on the River Itchen at Woolston between 1917 and 1918. She served briefly with the Atlantic Fleet at the end of the First World War.
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November 15, 2025 at 7:40 AM
HMS Woolston in 1919. The W-class destroyer was built by Thornycroft on the River Itchen at Woolston between 1917 and 1918. She served briefly with the Atlantic Fleet at the end of the First World War.
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On this day in 1977, the Clash played at Southampton’s Top Rank. The legendary punk band would visit Southampton again in 1980.
November 13, 2025 at 8:45 AM
On this day in 1977, the Clash played at Southampton’s Top Rank. The legendary punk band would visit Southampton again in 1980.
On this day in 1907, the Liberal Party MP Augustine Birrell held a meeting in Southampton. As soon as he started talking, five or six Suffragettes immediately began to interrupt him.
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November 12, 2025 at 7:46 AM
On this day in 1907, the Liberal Party MP Augustine Birrell held a meeting in Southampton. As soon as he started talking, five or six Suffragettes immediately began to interrupt him.
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Alwin Zeun and Max Bölkow, two German soldiers buried alongside each other far from home at Netley Military Cemetery near Southampton. They both died at the Royal Victoria Hospital on this day in 1918, the day the armistice was signed and the Western Front guns fell silent.
November 11, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Alwin Zeun and Max Bölkow, two German soldiers buried alongside each other far from home at Netley Military Cemetery near Southampton. They both died at the Royal Victoria Hospital on this day in 1918, the day the armistice was signed and the Western Front guns fell silent.
A short thread for Remembrance Sunday. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
During the First World War, over eight million troops from many different nations passed through Southampton, the country’s number one embarkation port during the conflict.
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During the First World War, over eight million troops from many different nations passed through Southampton, the country’s number one embarkation port during the conflict.
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November 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM
A short thread for Remembrance Sunday. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
During the First World War, over eight million troops from many different nations passed through Southampton, the country’s number one embarkation port during the conflict.
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During the First World War, over eight million troops from many different nations passed through Southampton, the country’s number one embarkation port during the conflict.
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On this day in 1837, a violent fire ripped through a warehouse on Southampton High Street. Twenty-two men and boys were killed as they tried to extinguish the flames. Of those who lost their lives, the youngest was just sixteen.
You can read about the fire here: historicsouthampton.co.uk/1837-fire/
You can read about the fire here: historicsouthampton.co.uk/1837-fire/
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 AM
On this day in 1837, a violent fire ripped through a warehouse on Southampton High Street. Twenty-two men and boys were killed as they tried to extinguish the flames. Of those who lost their lives, the youngest was just sixteen.
You can read about the fire here: historicsouthampton.co.uk/1837-fire/
You can read about the fire here: historicsouthampton.co.uk/1837-fire/
The Southampton Cenotaph was unveiled on this day in 1920. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, his Whitehall Cenotaph was unveiled in London five days later, on 11 November 1920. An iconic symbol of remembrance, the names of 3,298 Southampton men and women are now remembered here.
November 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The Southampton Cenotaph was unveiled on this day in 1920. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, his Whitehall Cenotaph was unveiled in London five days later, on 11 November 1920. An iconic symbol of remembrance, the names of 3,298 Southampton men and women are now remembered here.
On this day in 1940, thirty-five people were killed in a daylight air raid on Southampton. The Civic Centre’s art gallery received a direct hit. A class of fifteen children had taken shelter in the basement; only one child survived. There is a memorial inside the building.
November 6, 2025 at 7:47 AM
On this day in 1940, thirty-five people were killed in a daylight air raid on Southampton. The Civic Centre’s art gallery received a direct hit. A class of fifteen children had taken shelter in the basement; only one child survived. There is a memorial inside the building.
Charlie Kimber ran the Pembroke Hotel in Pembroke Square, a small square on the eastern side of the Bargate, nestled up against the town’s medieval wall. The hotel became known as Kim’s Kosy Korner during Kimber’s management in the early 1900s.
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November 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Charlie Kimber ran the Pembroke Hotel in Pembroke Square, a small square on the eastern side of the Bargate, nestled up against the town’s medieval wall. The hotel became known as Kim’s Kosy Korner during Kimber’s management in the early 1900s.
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This grand building was formerly the main post and telegraph office for Southampton Docks. Construction started in 1902 and it was completed in 1905. This is where mail would have been sorted before being loaded onto ships in the docks. The building is now apartments.
November 2, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This grand building was formerly the main post and telegraph office for Southampton Docks. Construction started in 1902 and it was completed in 1905. This is where mail would have been sorted before being loaded onto ships in the docks. The building is now apartments.
Bill Rawlings was born in Andover in 1896. In 1914 he was playing football for Andover but when the First World War broke out he joined the Wessex Field Ambulance. He would be serving king and country in France by the end of 1914.
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November 1, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Bill Rawlings was born in Andover in 1896. In 1914 he was playing football for Andover but when the First World War broke out he joined the Wessex Field Ambulance. He would be serving king and country in France by the end of 1914.
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Southampton’s West Bay, early 1900s. Southampton West (now Central) railway station can be seen on the left. The bay disappeared when the land was reclaimed here in the 1920s and 1930s in order to create the vast Western Docks.
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October 31, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Southampton’s West Bay, early 1900s. Southampton West (now Central) railway station can be seen on the left. The bay disappeared when the land was reclaimed here in the 1920s and 1930s in order to create the vast Western Docks.
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Memorial in Southampton Old Cemetery to those who perished in the sinkings of RMS Rhone and RMS Wye, which were among eighty vessels wrecked during a hurricane in the Caribbean at the end of October 1867.
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October 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Memorial in Southampton Old Cemetery to those who perished in the sinkings of RMS Rhone and RMS Wye, which were among eighty vessels wrecked during a hurricane in the Caribbean at the end of October 1867.
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Y’day I posted about Sir Oswald Mosley’s pro-Nazi British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. Some comments on Facebook expressed support for Mosley and his ideology. I know you can’t really reason with people who will publicly support fascism but this is what Mosley’s ideology did to Southampton:
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October 30, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Y’day I posted about Sir Oswald Mosley’s pro-Nazi British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. Some comments on Facebook expressed support for Mosley and his ideology. I know you can’t really reason with people who will publicly support fascism but this is what Mosley’s ideology did to Southampton:
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In 1937, the British Union of Fascists leader Sir Oswald Mosley tried to hold a rally on Southampton Common. It did not go well.
“We don’t want Mosley!” was the cry from the anti-fascist protestors in the crowd.
📸: Daily Echo
This post is way too long for Bluesky so I’ve posted screenshots below:
“We don’t want Mosley!” was the cry from the anti-fascist protestors in the crowd.
📸: Daily Echo
This post is way too long for Bluesky so I’ve posted screenshots below:
October 29, 2025 at 8:49 AM
In 1937, the British Union of Fascists leader Sir Oswald Mosley tried to hold a rally on Southampton Common. It did not go well.
“We don’t want Mosley!” was the cry from the anti-fascist protestors in the crowd.
📸: Daily Echo
This post is way too long for Bluesky so I’ve posted screenshots below:
“We don’t want Mosley!” was the cry from the anti-fascist protestors in the crowd.
📸: Daily Echo
This post is way too long for Bluesky so I’ve posted screenshots below:
Southampton Civil Volunteer Corps marching to St Peter’s Church for a service on Sunday, 9 November 1914. Southampton Central railway station can be seen in the background.
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October 28, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Southampton Civil Volunteer Corps marching to St Peter’s Church for a service on Sunday, 9 November 1914. Southampton Central railway station can be seen in the background.
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This card was sent to William George Stribling after the funeral of his wife Annie (née Margham), who tragically died in Southampton at the age of thirty-seven on 5 December 1906, two weeks after giving birth to a daughter. The baby survived and was named Ruby Annie.
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October 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
This card was sent to William George Stribling after the funeral of his wife Annie (née Margham), who tragically died in Southampton at the age of thirty-seven on 5 December 1906, two weeks after giving birth to a daughter. The baby survived and was named Ruby Annie.
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Robert Lavers was tea dealer, grocer, and fish sauce manufacturer, with premises at 5 Prospect Place on Above Bar Street, opposite Commercial Road. In this 1835 advert, he boasts of his Lavers’ Celebrated Southampton Sauce.
📸: Hampshire Advertiser, 16 May 1835
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📸: Hampshire Advertiser, 16 May 1835
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October 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Robert Lavers was tea dealer, grocer, and fish sauce manufacturer, with premises at 5 Prospect Place on Above Bar Street, opposite Commercial Road. In this 1835 advert, he boasts of his Lavers’ Celebrated Southampton Sauce.
📸: Hampshire Advertiser, 16 May 1835
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📸: Hampshire Advertiser, 16 May 1835
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St Julien’s Church on Winkle Street before and after restoration. The church began life in the late twelfth century as a chapel for the nearby God’s House Hospital, which had been founded circa 1185 as a refuge for poor travellers and pilgrims.
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October 25, 2025 at 7:19 AM
St Julien’s Church on Winkle Street before and after restoration. The church began life in the late twelfth century as a chapel for the nearby God’s House Hospital, which had been founded circa 1185 as a refuge for poor travellers and pilgrims.
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