Oxford Street History
Henry II landed in Southampton in 1174, dressed as a pilgrim. He walked to Canterbury
in penance for killing the Archbishop, Thomas A. Becket. Canterbury became renowned for
miracles and we had an influx of French arriving in Southampton wanting to walk to Canterbury.
A very wealthy Norman by the name of Gervase Ia Riche felt sorry for his fellow country man so
much so that he purchased the bottom end of town. He had almshouses built and a hospice called
Maison Dieu (House of God, Gods House Tower). The lawns laid to the old bowling green
(Britains oldest bowling green) and St. Julian’s Church was built and named after the patron
saint of pilgrims.
He left it to Richard the Lion Heart, who left it to his brother King John. In 1343 Edward III gave it all
to his wife Queen Phillipa to start her new school Queens College Oxford. Which is why we have
Oxford Street, College Street, John Street and Queens Park. The bulk of that estate is still owned
by Queens College Oxford.
White Star Tavern Dining & Rooms
Named after the famous White Star Line, the prominent British shipping company renowned
for its illustrious liners including the ill fated Titanic which sailed from Southampton. Our historic
building has been central to the City’s maritime history for over a hundred years.
The White Star has recently enjoyed a return to its former use as a hotel. The building still
retains a unique charm and elegance and is also home to a fashionable bar and restaurant.
In 1912, RMS Titanic sank on her maiden voyage from Southampton - taking the lives of hundreds
of local men and women. Below is the local history of some of the places that played a part in the
Titanic story.
Seamans' House
Walk along Bernard Street, across the crossroads and turn right down Oxford Street. The large
red brick building which is now home to the Salvation Army was once the Seamans' House. The
Seamens' House was put as the address of 17 young Titanic crewmen - but remarkably, only two
died, the rest were obviously born survivors following their hard upbringing.
The Grapes
Further along Oxford Street, The Grapes is still a popular pub. In 1911 the firemen and engine
room workers on the liners used to drink in what was a real 'spit and sawdust' pub just before
departure. Six Titanic crewmen left it late and dashed through Dock Gate 4 just before midday -
three men crossed the railway line just in front of a train but the three Slade brothers let the train
pass. In the meantime, the gangplank was pulled up and fortunately for them, they missed the
Titanic.
Admiralty Building
Turn down Latimer Road and cross Queen's Terrace and Platform Road - The Admiralty building is
now a large block of flats and was once the General Post Office - the main post office for
Southampton Docks. There were 1,300 bags of mail on the Titanic and five postal workers
sorted mail on board the ship during the crossing. They all died trying to rescue the registered
post sacks.
Berth 44
From Dock Gate 4, you can see Berth 44. Now called Ocean Dock, the White Star Dock was built
to house the three great liners built by Harland and Wolff and was surrounded by sheds and
workshops. RMS Titanic tied up here on 10 April, 1912 - local people were extremely pleased to
see her, not least because of all the job prospects she brought with her in what was a hard time of unemployment in the city.
As the Titanic left her berth with cheering crowds on the quayside on 10 April, 1912, it was held
up for an hour after the displaced water caused another ship, the New Yorker to break its moorings
and drift across her path - it was a fateful delay.
South Western House
On the corner of Terminus Terrace and Canute Road, you'll see the old South Western Hotel.
Now luxury flats, this hotel was where the First Class passengers would stay before embarking
on their liner.
The boat trains from London would come straight in to the back of the hotel where they would be
met by the porters. Amongst the guests staying before Titanic departed were Bruce Ismay, Chairman
of the White Star Line and the Chief Designer, Thomas Andrews.
Continue along Canute Road towards Ocean Village and you'll find the Canute Chambers on the right.
This was the office of the White Star Line and was where anxious relatives of crewmen came
for information about what had happened.
Canute Chambers
At first conflicting rumours and telegraph messages about something happening to the 'unsinkable'
Titanic filtered through before the awful truth about the scale of the disaster unfolded.
Of the crew, 724 lived within the Southampton area - only 175 returned home to their friends
and families.
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