Heritage: Stories of Southampton

By Martin Brisland. As a qualified local tour guide, I have discovered that locals and overseas tourists alike know little of our city, other than the Titanic left from here in 1912. Of course, that story had a profound effect on Southampton, as hundreds of the deceased crew came from...

Heritage: The diversity of Southampton

By Martin Brisland. People often say that one of the things they value most about Southampton is its diversity. Being a port, Southampton has a long history of accepting other people and cultures. Medieval Huguenot and Walloon refugees were allowed by Elizabeth 1 to use St Julien’s in Winkle Street...

Heritage: The history of ‘woke’

By Martin Brisland. Woke is a word used frequently in recent years but where did it come from? How did it transform from its roots in Black American culture to a mainstream term? It seems to be a word that means different things to different people. While there is...

Heritage: History of The Ordnance Survey

By Martin Brisland. The Ordnance Survey (OS), established in 1791, has a long association with Southampton. Britain’s mapping agency has its roots in military defence. This was started following the defeat of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745. It took eight years to map he Scottish Highlands. Then during the Napoleonic...

Heritage: Southampton street furniture

By Martin Brisland. When I was a child, I loved the I-Spy series of books. About forty titles were published from the 1950s until 2002. Typical titles were I-Spy Cars, I-Spy Churches, and I-Spy Birds. You collected points with more gained for unusual finds. It was a wonderful way to...

Heritage: A proud day for SS Shieldhall

By Martin Brisland.  On 2nd April 2025 there was a Presentation Ceremony of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) onboard Steamship Shieldhall in the Western Docks. The impressive glass trophy was handed to Captain Martin Phipps by Mr. Nigel Atkinson, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. Distinguished guests included Cllr...

Heritage: Plaques of Southampton 4

By Martin Brisland. A story behind every plaque. In three previous articles I have mainly covered some of the stories behind the English Heritage blue plaques found in our city. In this final article I will cover some of the Black History Month ones,  the Bevois Mount History Group ones...

Heritage: Plaques of Southampton 3

By Martin Brisland. Behind every plaque lies a story. In two previous articles I mentioned the various types of plaque found in our city. There are English Heritage blue ones, Southampton Council black ones to remember local people who had a connection to the Titanic, Black History Month have put...