STATION QUARTER NORTH

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1 This is an historic landscape of escarpment, wooded valley, green open fields, streams, springs and ponds all gently sloping towards the waters of the River Test estuary. 1810: A sketch view of Southampton from Four Posts the Southampton to Salisbury Canal and Achards Bridge are in the foreground. (John Silman Collection) The whole area was thickly wooded sloping gently to the shore of the Test. A stream Rollesbrook, ran through the common and down into the estuary: Woods held deer, wild pigs and pigeons. Unpolluted waters of the Test were full of eels, flatfish and mullet. In the 1890s Southampton Corporation sold an area of land for the construction of the new station. The land involved was partly field and partly shoreline and was therefore subject to tidal flooding. Bert Moody Southampton s Railways, Bert Moody and Waterfront Publications (1992) 1846: Illustrated map of Blechynden Terrace, (Southampton City Council Libraries and Archives) c.1910: The new Southampton Station was opened in The Station Clocktower was a much loved landmark. (John Alsop Collection) 1905: A view over Southbrook Road, Southampton Station and the Test estuary looking towards the city. (John Alsop Collection) John Guilmant Shirley from Domesday to D-Day, Southampton City Council Before1847 and the coming of the railway, Blechynden Terrace was a secluded suburban terrace, a select residential resort with ornamental gardens and a marine parade. Southampton s Riviera was so busy at weekends that there was no room to sit down at high tide. Southampton City Council Local History and Maritime Special Collections: REF.16/7/82 HS.h. History Localities. On the other hand, the line brought prosperity to the hitherto quiet and even isolated neighbourhood of Blechynden, making it as lively and full of business as it was dull and monotonous before, while the strip of land running westward from it between the railway and the shore became a fashionable promenade where strollers, observing the distant prospect of the town could occasionally be diverted by the still novel spectacle of the passing trains. 1848: Detail from Millbrook Shore by Phillip Brannon An idealised view of Blechynden with the new railway (built 1847) and St Peter s Church (built 1845) visible at the centre of the image. (Southampton City Council Libraries and Archives) AT Patterson A History of Southampton, Vol. II: The Beginning of Modern Southampton, , Southampton Records Series, 14 (1971) 1910: Detail from a larger image of people relaxing on the promenade at the south of the Station. (Southampton City Council Libraries and Archives)

2 Inspiration, aspiration and realisation Artist Chris Tipping undertook a detailed investigation into the neighbourhood s social history, geography, ecology and culture to uncover hidden structures, which inform the area s current form, identity and reputation. This site-specific and research-led activity assisted in driving the creative concept and rationale which now underpin the general spatial layout, character and interpretation of the new proposals. 1910: View along the road at Western Shore towards Blechynden and the station. The large building at the centre is the Emperia Buildings, bombed in (Bert Moody Collection) Southampton s lost district: A landscape rediscovered An understanding of the site s past physical condition drives the overall theme and character of the landscape and public realm interventions: a wooded valley, a meandering stream, the curve of the historic shoreline and the ill-fated Salisbury to Southampton Canal. The primary human activities on the site over time, as evidenced by residential, industrial and cultural histories have been influential in drawing individual and collective voices from the locality which will serve to imbue any outcomes with a distinctive and renewed vernacular. 1960s: Demolition of houses on Commercial Road during the building of Wyndham Court. (Southern Daily Echo) 1966: Demolition of the Clock Tower at Southampton Station, prior to building Overline House. (Southern Daily Echo) 1934/35: View towards the great tunnel, upline from the Station Clock Tower, with Emperia Buildings to the left and the power station to the right. The footbridge at bottom right is still standing. (Bert Moody Collection) 1929: Summer 1929 and the construction of the Western Docks. (By permission of Associated British Ports, Dave Marden Collection) 1960s: View from the Mayflower Theatre towards Southampton Station during the building of Wyndham Court. (Southern Daily Echo) 1970s: View from Civic Centre Clock Tower looking out over the Western Docks. Overline House and Wyndham Court are to the top-right of the image. (Southern Daily Echo)

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4 View 1: 63 Commercial Road junction with Wyndham Place, view from the west View 2: Station forecourt / Southbrook Road, view from the east View 3: Wyndham Place, view from the south

5 View 4: Station forecourt / Southbrook Road, view from the west View 5: Commercial Road View 6: Wyndham Place / Frobisher House open space, view from the east

6 STATION QUARTER NORTH Station Quarter North Side Concept Lighting Strategy

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8 Prospective view of Overline House and adjacent new square Keep an eye on our events listings at to ensure you don t miss out. Station Quarter North Champions Group Back in March, the Champions Group (comprising a selection of residents and businesses in the area) met in the Mayflower Theatre to discuss the latest developments around the north side of the station. Marco Bertacchini from Caffexpresso, and Jamie Goately from the Guitar Store talked about a range of events planned for Wyndham Place during Here s an idea of what to expect: Regular events French market Friday live music in the square Spring and summer events Urban beach volleyball tournament for local businesses Vespa and custom-made motorbikes rally Autumn events Marine-themed events in conjunction with the PSP Southampton Boat Show Bicycle road show (cycling stalls and demonstrations) Public fitness session in the square with BrightsidePT running club Winter events Remembrance Sunday service Christmas carols