By Martin Brisland.
In the latest in our series of fun facts about Southampton we look at some more little known gems about the city.
Some scenes for the finale of the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever were shot using the SS Canberra at the Western Docks.
Many people in Victorian England were concerned about the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Joseph Chamberlain claimed that Southampton was the third most drink ridden town in the country with one person in every 120 having been charged with drunkenness.
Around one hundred years ago Southampton had several temperance pubs: The Cowherds on the Common, The Horns at Nursling, and the Old Thatch on Romsey Road.
The People’s Refreshment Houses Association Ltd (PRHA) was founded in 1896 by F. J. Payne (1845-1921), the Bishop of Chester. Across England there were 130 such pubs which did sell alcoholic drinks but could not advertise the fact. They offered tea and coffee at a penny a cup and had a separate entrance to a family friendly room for people to have food and non-alcoholic drinks. Pub managers received commission on such sales but nothing for alcoholic sales. The scheme only officially closed in 1966.
Arriving at Southampton by car you pass signs saying ‘Welcome to Southampton’ showing that you are entering the city’s confines.
Before accurate maps. town and parish boundaries were marked by landscape features such as rivers, bridges, or a tree, often known as a Gospel Tree, and by large stones.
Annually parish officials and parishioners, including children, would walk the boundary ensuring that the markers were in place and that there had been no encroachment. It was important that children learned the markers and the boundary for the future which they did by beating the markers with willow sticks.
This annual ritual was known as ‘Beating the Bounds’ and, though no longer necessary, it is a tradition that continues to this day in Southampton.
In 1895 the Town’s boundary was extended to include Freemantle, Shirley, and part of Millbrook and in July 1920 Woolston, Sholing, Bitterne Manor, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Swaythling and Bassett were added.
Following a Council ‘Beating the Bounds’ report in September 1985 a set of Rebus Stones were created to mark the City’s then boundary. Designed by the City Architect’s department they show a rebus (a visual pun) on S(outh) H(am) Tun (picture of a barrel), with an arrow pointing North top left, and the year 1988 bottom right.
The stones were recycled from the former Civic Centre Rose Garden.
Twelve stones were installed, but it is a challenge to locate them. Sites include on the old bridge at Redbridge, Cut-horn Mound near Bassett Crossroads, the Crosshouse, Fernyhurst Lake, Lord’s Wood, Sports Centre, Bassett, Itchen Valley, Townhill Park/Cutbush Lane, Netley Common, Tickleford Gully/Westwood, and Weston Shore.
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