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....
Articles with the Tag Southampton heritage
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 1
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...
Heritage: The gateway to the world
By Martin Brisland. Before the days of jet travel, The Port of Southampton was once known as the gateway to the world. The Southampton to New York run was serviced by famous names such as the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Southampton has a unique double tide with up to...
Heritage: The boundaries of Southampton
By Martin Brisland. Main image: The recent Welcome to Southampton logo that people say says nothing about the city or its heritage. Arriving at Southampton, you will see signs saying “Welcome to Southampton”. There was some recent controversy when a new design replaced the long standing ones at a reported...
Heritage: Southampton’s link to bank note production and Bombay gin
By Martin Brisland. Today, I use Apple Pay and rarely use paper money. The move to a cashless society is recent and, for centuries, cash was the main means to enable trade. Its usage is connected to Huguenots from France who first arrived in Southampton in the 16th century. Our area...
Heritage: A Coat of Many Colours
By Martin Brisland A Coat of Many Colours is a Dolly Parton song she plays at every concert. Growing up in poverty, her mother made her a treasured patchwork coat made of many types and colours of fabric. In some ways that is the port of Southampton – which has...
Heritage: How a Southampton Father and Son Helped Defeat Napoleon
By Martin Brisland In October 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Nelson engaged thirty-eight Spanish and French ships off the coast of Spain near Cape Trafalgar. Nelson had a plan which involved splitting the enemy line into three and engaging the middle third, which included their flag ship, in close...
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...