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. Christmas 2025 Just over three hundred years ago Southampton’s ‘Father of English Hymn Writing’ Isaac Watts published one of today’s best-loved Christmas hymns, Joy to...
Articles with the Tag heritage in Southampton
Heritage: Quirky Southampton: Part 5
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. Gateway to the world? Southampton – as a major port – has always welcomed people and influences from all around the world. Emperor...
Heritage: Quirky Southampton: Part 3
By Martin Brisland. In 1896 a young boy arrived in Southampton from South Africa on the SS Guelph. John Ronald Reul Tolkien would go on to create The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Some say he used Southampton as the inspiration for Southfarthing, a part of the Shire...
Heritage: Quirky Southampton: Part 2
By Martin Brisland. I am a qualified tour guide and writer of six published local history books and around 150 articles for In Common and elsewhere. Over the years I have accumulated lots of unusual facts about the Southampton area. As a guide I soon realised that most people do...
Images released marking 59 years since Tina Turner performed in Southampton
Archive images released today mark 59 years since Tina Turner performed as the support act for the Rolling Stones in 1966, on the Southampton stage then known as the Gaumont Theatre. It comes as Tina: The Tina Turner Musical plays at Mayflower Theatre – which was the Gaumont. ...
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: The Plaques of Southampton 2
By Martin Brisland. In a previous article in February, I described the blue and other types of plaque that can be found in Southampton. We have just celebrated International Women’s Day. The origins of the day can be traced back to Therea Malkiel, a 35-year-old labour organiser in New York...
Heritage: Do you know a labyrinth from a maze and a miz-maze?
By Martin Brisland. Image – Mizmaze in the grounds of All Saints Church, Millbrook, Southampton Do you know a labyrinth from a maze and a miz-maze? We have several examples in our area at Town Quay Park, Redbridge, Breamore and Winchester. Like me, you may be familiar with the...