Guides to Southampton

[squirmelia]

"What is there to do in Southampton?" I asked myself, having got so used to feeling like I'm going to have an adventure every time I get on a train and leave the town.

I decided to consult the library.

The 1975 guide to the South suggested a trip to Southampton Zoo, situated on the Common and containing zebras, camels and many other animals. The zoo has long since closed, but on a nearby page was an advert for Carrefour: "The South's first Hypermarket - Parking for 800 cars: 34 check-outs: Every kind of food, drink, and house-hold items at a low, low price all the year round." Exciting. The hypermarket is still there (and according to an article in the Sunday Observer - 27th February 1983, sold "2000 packets of four VegeBurgers in three weeks"), but is actually an Asda now.

The 1923 South Coast Guide has an advert for "The Royal Pier" which has a "very nice Refreshment Room and Buffet to seat 100". The guide also advertises the "World Record Controller - Not a Repeater" that could be bought at Southampton Gramophone Salon, 21 London Road. It seems that a recruitment agency is now at that address.

Well, there's always a Digital Arts Festival, I suppose.

Comments

[ophelia-machina.livejournal.com]

I have a southampton zoo badge on my bag :-)

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Do you have zebras in the bag? :)

[ophelia-machina.livejournal.com]

Alas not. But sometimes there are squashed bits of fluffy choclate. I got given a chocolate koala if that helps?

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Fluffy chocolate and chocolate koalas sound like a good kind of zoo to me!

[mair_in_grenderich]

I still wander around Tesco with my mouth open at the marvels of choices and low prices and food- (and other-) inventions I'd never imagined.

Over this way we have the Country Park at Netley. It has a chapel with a (n allegedly) stunning view which is closed for repair, a real live baby train which runs for a few hours at weekends, and a tea shop which we have not yet found open. And a beach where the brave swim in the summer.

There's a geothermal facility down near Toys R Us which has a noticeboard outside it you can go and read. Fun huh. You could stand on the Itchen Bridge or the Woolston Pier and watch the river.

I miss Edinburgh :)

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I mostly get wide-eyed at Waitrose.. dragonfruit, starfruit, red squashes, green squashes. :)

I've been to Netley Park for a Monochrome BBS (http://www.mono.org) meet. We had a BBQ and I remember walking to the shore and seeing all those sinister buildings opposite. Not been on the train or tried swimming there though!

Is the Woolston Pier as good as the Woolston Ferry?

[mair_in_grenderich]

I don't know if it's really called the Woolston Pier. It's good when the tide's in, especially if it's windy, but you can only walk half way down and then you meet a big padlocked gate )-:

What's the Woolston ferry?

I shall plan a trip to Waitrose next time I need to entertain myself :)

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

There's a song that goes "The Woolston Ferry, it doesn't travel very fast.." - http://www.forest-tracks.co.uk/folk_music_pages/folk_music_woolston.html
It seems the Woolston Ferry was the same thing as the Itchen 'Floating Bridge'.

[mair_in_grenderich]

ooh, exciting! *listens*

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Yes! Have you listened to the "Back in Southampton" one as well?

[mair_in_grenderich]

sinister buildings

At night they're all lit up and make me think of a jewellery box.

Digital Arts

[angryangeltoo.livejournal.com]

I want to take a look at that too :)

Re: Digital Arts

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I was invited to the opening night, but couldn't make it. I hope some of the events are interesting though.