Historic Southampton

After taking the ferry from Hythe, across Southampton Water to the city, I disembarked at the “town quay”. At the land end of the pier stands the impressive Edwardian “Harbour Board Building”. Once housing the board responsible from running the harbour, toady it is grade 2 listed, but used as a casino! Just as a note, about 500 meters away is Ocean Dock (Berth 44) where Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage. The actual bollards to which she was moored are still in place and are painted orange to denote them.

The other side of the pier is home to Red Funnel Ferries. They take passengers across to the Isle of Wight.

The pier is aligned with Southampton’s high street, so walking in a straight line, you just keep going! It has now been regenerated a bit and has been re-branded as the QE2 Mile. On one corner stands this lovely building (1867), once a branch of the National Provincial Bank, then Nat West, now a coffee shop/antiques shop/bar. To the side runs St Michaels Street and no prises for guessing at the top stands St Michaels Church. 1835 as seen today although parts of it date way back, it was founded in 1070!

Almost, but not quite 180 degrees, stands the remains of Holyrood Church, destroyed during the blitz in November 1940, it was built around 1320. It’s now a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Merchant Navy, inside is a memorial fountain to those who lost their lives on RMS Titanic, and outside stands one of the 13 tonne anchors from the QE2.

Moving along the high street, and up a grade, stands “Bargate” once part of the Medieval City Walls, built around 1180, and was once the main gate into the city. It is a grade 1 listed. Below is the south side, as approached from the harbour, below that is the north side.

All of these images were made with my Leica M4-P with the Zeiss 35mm. I used a roll of HP5, as the weather was dull and dismal – so as such, I’m pleased with the results that I got. There is much more to see in Southampton, and at some point I’ll make a return visit to walk the couple of walks that have been created to take in most landmarks, until then, this has been my “taster”. I developed the film in Ilfosol 1+9 at 20 degrees, for 8.5 mins. I think I’m slowly getting there with refining my workflow. The photo of Holyrood Church had no processing at all (apart from sizing) it’s as it fell out of the scanner and I’m happy with it! Famous last words!!!!