Historic Southampton@HistoricalSoton

I’m no longer here. Find me on Facebook or Bluesky.

 Southampton, England
historicsouthampton.co.uk/
Joined October 2015
4,613 Photos and videos
On board RMS Queen Elizabeth on a voyage from Southampton to New York in March 1947.
Family photograph.

ALT Family photograph.

2
5
31
1,968
No information about this team, unfortunately. The image is on a postcard that was sent in Southampton to Miss Foy of 3 Upper Liverpool Street in October 1905. The message reads: ‘Next time I will try to be looking more cheerful, perhaps the circumstances will have changed.’
Photograph of a young football team.

ALT Photograph of a young football team.

7
4
47
2,860
Southampton’s first purpose-built public library opened in 1893 on the corner of Cumberland Place and London Road. It was in use until the current library in the Civic Centre opened in 1939. Unfortunately, this lovely building was destroyed during the Blitz.
Old postcard image of the library, early 1900s.

ALT Old postcard image of the library, early 1900s.

6
10
57
2,797
Ernest Frederick Heywood landed in Normandy with the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Bn at 00:50 on D-Day. He was wounded in battle and brought back to Southampton where he died in hospital on 14 June 1944, eight days after D-Day. He was laid to rest in Hollybrook Cemetery. @CWGC
Heywood’s grave.

ALT Heywood’s grave.

1
7
47
1,651
Historic Southampton retweeted
Historic Southampton@HistoricalSoton
3 Feb 2025
‘A Soldier’s Letter to his SWEETHEART.’ Harry sent this postcard to his dear Louisa Frampton of 45A Aberdeen Road. First World War era, exact year unknown. I’m not sure what happened to Harry. It appears Louisa (born in 1897) married a man named Reginald Whittle in 1925.
Front of postcard, a patriotic military poem. Sent to ‘Louie’ from Weymouth.

ALT Front of postcard, a patriotic military poem. Sent to ‘Louie’ from Weymouth.

Back of postcard. ‘To my dear Louie with love Harry xxxx’

ALT Back of postcard. ‘To my dear Louie with love Harry xxxx’
4
15
1,949
Historic Southampton retweeted
Malc Colman@Scattymal
3 Feb 2025
@HistoricalSoton This is my mates grandad and his tram around 1900 I believe. He's proud of his tram.
1
3
12
1,096
Historic Southampton retweeted
Ludgate Larry@ludgatelarry
1 Feb 2025
Replying to @HistoricalSoton
A fragment of the France lives on. A small part of the ship's bow is preserved alongside the harbour at Le Havre. Photo taken last year aboard a departing channel ferry ...
2
1
5
1,221
Outside the Royal Pier gatehouse.
Slightly creased photograph of the entrance to the Royal Pier, probably 1930s. Group of people outside the doors and a motorbike parked up outside the gate.

ALT Slightly creased photograph of the entrance to the Royal Pier, probably 1930s. Group of people outside the doors and a motorbike parked up outside the gate.

1
24
1,272
SS France leaving Southampton’s Ocean Terminal, possibly during her maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York via Southampton in 1962. At the time of her construction in 1960 she was the longest passenger ship ever built, a title she held until 2003 when Queen Mary 2 was completed.
SS France at Southampton turning with assistance from six tugs.

ALT SS France at Southampton turning with assistance from six tugs.

6
8
54
2,336
Mayor’s reception at Southampton Guildhall, 18 July 1950.
Large group of people on the steps of the Guildhall.

ALT Large group of people on the steps of the Guildhall.

3
2
25
1,459
‘The first Alexandra Rose Girl. Avenue, Southampton.’ The monument behind her is still there. Alexandra Rose Day - which saw people sell roses to raise money for those living in poverty - was launched by Queen Alexandra in 1912. @AlexRoseCharity continues to help people today.
Woman selling roses from a box labelled ‘ALEXANDRA DAY’ in front of the monument on the Avenue.

ALT Woman selling roses from a box labelled ‘ALEXANDRA DAY’ in front of the monument on the Avenue.

1
9
39
2,708
King George III died #OnThisDay 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.
The statue of George set into the south face of the Bargate.

ALT The statue of George set into the south face of the Bargate.

1
8
45
1,966
The boating lake on Southampton Common.
Photo of the boating lake.

ALT Photo of the boating lake.

2
4
74
2,849
Today is #HolocaustRemembranceDay. In 1939, more than 900 Jews fled Nazi Germany and sailed to Cuba, only to be turned away. Returning to Europe, 300 or so disembarked at Southampton. The rest went to France, Belgium, and Holland. 254 of them would later be murdered by the Nazis.
Jewish baby arriving at Southampton.

ALT Jewish baby arriving at Southampton.

Jewish refugees at Southampton in June 1939.

ALT Jewish refugees at Southampton in June 1939.
8
26
1,728
I was disgusted to see photos of the anti-immigration protestors climbing on and trampling all over this part of the Cenotaph yesterday. Using Southampton’s main war memorial and symbol of remembrance as a platform to call for mass deportations is, in my opinion, utterly obscene.
The Cenotaph covered in flowers after being unveiled in 1920.

ALT The Cenotaph covered in flowers after being unveiled in 1920.

9
11
117
5,481
In 1937, BUF leader Oswald Mosley (pictured here doing an instantly recognisable type of salute) tried to hold a fascist rally on Southampton Common. Ordinary Southampton folk came together to successfully disrupt the rally, attack Mosley, and drive him from the town.
Mosley giving a fascist salute and nothing else.

ALT Mosley giving a fascist salute and nothing else.

5
33
247
12,452
Over two million American soldiers passed through Southampton during WW2 to help liberate Europe from the evil tyranny of fascism. Paul Shimer, seen here with the mayor, was the ‘Millionth Yank’ to head off to war from the port. Sadly, he would be killed in action in April 1945.
Shimer holding a sign (‘THE MILLIONTH YANK’) with the Mayor of Southampton.

ALT Shimer holding a sign (‘THE MILLIONTH YANK’) with the Mayor of Southampton.

4
9
48
2,412
Shimer was buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery near Saint-Avold in France, alongside 10,480 other American soldiers who gave their lives in the fight against fascism.
2
8
781
Southampton’s iconic Bargate in the nineteenth century.
Nineteenth century sketch of the Bargate.

ALT Nineteenth century sketch of the Bargate.

4
7
91
2,711
Load more