SEE Southampton

05/09/2024

An OS plan of the City in 1979 (45 years ago).

05/09/2024

This is one of my favourite prints of the Bargate which is taken from Freeling's London and Southampton and Isle of Wight Railway Companion published in 1839.

05/09/2024

Nine Elms was the London terminus of the London and Southampton Railway in 1840. Only later was it extended to Waterloo.

05/09/2024

This plan of the development of the Bargate area was published by the East Bargate Development Co. as a part of a proposal for the development of Southampton post bombing in WW2.

05/09/2024

Hundreds of pigs will soon be released to hoover up acorns in the New Forest for pannage season

05/09/2024

A poster for the London and South Western Railway. They were superseded by Southern Railway in 1923.

05/09/2024

Shirley High Street - what year would you think?

05/09/2024

Where would you find this?

05/09/2024

See link below for Heritage Weekend activities 6th-8th September. I know that many of you will particularly welcome the rare chance to visit the Bargate, and get an update on the work going on there. See Southampton members will be opening the Weigh House on Saturday and Sunday (also open Friday but with different staffing), and See Southampton member Godfrey will be opening the Westgate Exhibition on Friday and Saturday, as well as the usual Sunday.

In September, thousands of heritage sites across England will open their doors once again to the public, including some of Southampton’s most iconic…

05/09/2024

c1912 Southampton Terminus

05/09/2024

1907 Solent Queen, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd (Red Funnel).

Red Funnel's house flag was adopted in 1861. The design was inspired by the names of the company's early paddle-steamers, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby and Pearl. A simple rhyme was the guide to flying it correctly:
"Blue to mast, green to fly,
Red on deck, white to sky."
(Wikipedia)

05/09/2024

05/09/2024

There are currently Red Funnel ferry delays due to problems with this unit. Car ferry travel from Southampton to the IOW has been disrupted.
The Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP) combines propulsion and steering in one unit. This unique vessel propulsion solution was developed 90 years ago by Austrian engineer Ernst Schneider. Today, Voith Schneider Propellers are in use all over the world wherever precise, safe and efficient maneuvering is of the essence.

05/09/2024

Above Bar Street before pedestrianisation

05/09/2024

The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) was equipped with two five-bladed controllable pitch propellers, each with a diameter of 5.8 meters. These propellers were part of the ship’s propulsion system, which was upgraded in 1986-87 during a major refit that replaced her original steam turbines with nine diesel-electric engines. The propellers operated at a normal speed of 144 revolutions per minute (rpm), but could be reduced to 72 rpm for improved efficiency during maneuvering.

The QE2's propellers were also enhanced with Grim vane wheels, designed to further optimize efficiency. These wheels, with a diameter of 6.7 meters, functioned as a turbine in the inner part and as a propeller in the outer part, making them the largest ever implemented in a twin-screw vessel at that time. This setup contributed significantly to the ship’s high performance, allowing it to reach speeds exceeding 32 knots, which was crucial for maintaining its schedule on transatlantic crossings.

This advanced propulsion system not only improved the ship's speed but also reduced fuel consumption, making the QE2 more economical and environmentally friendly during her long career.

05/09/2024

The RMS Mauretania was equipped with four large funnels, which became an iconic feature of the ship's profile. These funnels were not only functional but also a design statement, contributing to the ship's imposing and streamlined appearance. The decision to add a fourth funnel, deviating from the original three-funnel design, was made to accommodate the ship's powerful steam turbine engines, which required efficient smoke dispersal.

Each funnel was painted in the distinctive Cunard livery—black with a red band—making the Mauretania instantly recognizable. These funnels were crucial in ventilating the ship's boiler rooms, which housed 25 boilers operating at high pressure to maintain the vessel's high speeds. The addition of the fourth funnel also helped balance the ship aesthetically, giving it a more symmetrical and powerful appearance, which was vital for its role as a transatlantic ocean liner designed to project both speed and luxury. The Mauretania's funnels, along with its overall design, made it one of the most admired and celebrated liners of its time.

04/09/2024

Anyone remember this laundry?

04/09/2024

Horse drawn tram somewhere in .

04/09/2024

Above the former New Look store in Shirley.

04/09/2024

The West Gate Tower will be open this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 4 pm as part of the Heritage Weekend.

Friday 06 September: 10:00 - 16:00 (last entry 15:30)
Saturday 07 September: 10:00 - 16:00 (last entry 15:30)
Sunday 08 September: 10:00 - 16:00 (last entry 15:30)

Discover the history of the Tower and the Story of the Mayflower when she was in Southampton in August of 1620 before sailing to America.

04/09/2024

04/09/2024

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Steam Ships at Sea, Southampton. circa 1845; after William Jeffreson.,

04/09/2024

Mid 1800s? Crosshouse
The Cross House. This stone building stands where the ferries used to ply from Southampton to Itchen Ferry village. Its cross shape means you are sheltered no matter where the wind is blowing from. Legend has it that it was paid for by a rich lady who caught a chill waiting for a ferry!
Itchen project

04/09/2024

Netley Abbey near Southampton, after Francis Towne.
Francis Towne (1739 – 7 July 1816) was a British watercolour painter of landscapes that range from the English Lake District to Naples and Rome. After a long period of obscurity, his work has been increasingly recognised from the early 20th century onwards.

04/09/2024

Horse market under Central Bridge

04/09/2024

In Canute Road.