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

[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?