Itchen Ferry village
Encyclopedia
Itchen Ferry village was a small hamlet on the East bank of the River Itchen
in Hampshire
. The village took its name from the small fishing boats
that were also used to ferry foot passengers across the river. An Ordnance Survey map of 1911 (NC/03/17894) shows the village to be situated in the area roughly bounded by Sea Road, Oakbank Road, the River Itchen
and the railway line in modern Woolston, but also extending along Sea Road towards Peartree Green
on the other side of the railway, which cut the village in half in 1866. Neighbouring streets on that same map, Defender Road, Britannia Road and Shamrock Road have a more structured layout and are clearly part of the Victorian enlargement of Woolston. The same map clearly shows the housing in Itchen Ferry village to have a more random layout. An even older map, of 1842 pins Itchen Ferry village more tightly to the area between Sea Road and Vicarage Road.
Itchen Ferrymen were granted permission to ferry passengers and goods across the River Itchen by the Lords of the Manors of Woolston and Southampton. Lords of the Manor of Woolston were paid in cash. Lords of the Manor of Southampton received free passage.
The village lost a large part of its livelihood when the Floating Bridge
was introduced in 1836, but continued to operate a night service until the late 19th century. The inhabitants always remained fishermen and seafarers.
A memorial to Richard Parker
of Itchen Ferry village can be seen in the graveyard of Jesus Chapel on Peartree Green
. The desperate situation that led to his death in 1884 was the subject of a significant murder trial Regina v. Dudley & Stephens that changed English law.
Already absorbed into its larger neighbour Woolston and subsequently into the borough of Southampton
in 1920, Itchen Ferry village was destroyed beyond repair by the Luftwaffe
on 26 September 1940, due to its misfortune of being a stones throw from the Supermarine
factory and a short distance up-river from the John I. Thornycroft & Company
shipyard. There were over 100 casualties in this one raid.
But that was not the only raid. The Luftwaffe
had targeted the area on a number of previous occasions. An air raid shelter in the lower region of Sea Road near the railway line is reported as receiving a direct hit on 24 September 1940
The area was subsequently used for training troops that would be fighting in similar ruined villages during the Invasion of Europe in 1944.
Reports of casualties in the direct hit on the air raid shelter (24 September) are contradictory. One report has approx 100 fatalities and approx 50 wounded, coincidentally the total of the two raids as listed above: it may have been politically expedient to combine those figures. Another source simply reports many fatalities. The most reliable report, because it is based on local sources in Southampton rather than RAF sources, is that the shelter was largely unoccupied because the air raid warning was late.
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. The village took its name from the small fishing boats
Itchen ferry
The Itchen Ferry is a type of small gaff rig cutter that was originally used for fishing in the Solent and surrounding waters and often raced in town regattas...
that were also used to ferry foot passengers across the river. An Ordnance Survey map of 1911 (NC/03/17894) shows the village to be situated in the area roughly bounded by Sea Road, Oakbank Road, the River Itchen
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
and the railway line in modern Woolston, but also extending along Sea Road towards Peartree Green
Peartree Green
Peartree Green is an open space on high ground on the East bank of the River Itchen in Hampshire which adjoins the districts of Woolston, Bitterne, Sholing and Merryoak within the city of Southampton....
on the other side of the railway, which cut the village in half in 1866. Neighbouring streets on that same map, Defender Road, Britannia Road and Shamrock Road have a more structured layout and are clearly part of the Victorian enlargement of Woolston. The same map clearly shows the housing in Itchen Ferry village to have a more random layout. An even older map, of 1842 pins Itchen Ferry village more tightly to the area between Sea Road and Vicarage Road.
Itchen Ferrymen were granted permission to ferry passengers and goods across the River Itchen by the Lords of the Manors of Woolston and Southampton. Lords of the Manor of Woolston were paid in cash. Lords of the Manor of Southampton received free passage.
The village lost a large part of its livelihood when the Floating Bridge
Woolston ferry
The Woolston Floating Bridge, was a cable ferry that crossed the River Itchen in England between Woolston and Southampton from 23 November 1836 until 11 June 1977...
was introduced in 1836, but continued to operate a night service until the late 19th century. The inhabitants always remained fishermen and seafarers.
Richard Parker
-People:*Richard Parker , American economist and member of The Nation Editorial Board*Richard Parker , British sailor and leader of the Nore Mutiny*Richard A...
of Itchen Ferry village can be seen in the graveyard of Jesus Chapel on Peartree Green
Peartree Green
Peartree Green is an open space on high ground on the East bank of the River Itchen in Hampshire which adjoins the districts of Woolston, Bitterne, Sholing and Merryoak within the city of Southampton....
. The desperate situation that led to his death in 1884 was the subject of a significant murder trial Regina v. Dudley & Stephens that changed English law.
Already absorbed into its larger neighbour Woolston and subsequently into the borough of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in 1920, Itchen Ferry village was destroyed beyond repair by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
on 26 September 1940, due to its misfortune of being a stones throw from the Supermarine
Supermarine
Supermarine was a British aircraft manufacturer that became famous for producing a range of sea planes and the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. The name now belongs to an English motorboat manufacturer.-History:...
factory and a short distance up-river from the John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
shipyard. There were over 100 casualties in this one raid.
But that was not the only raid. The Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
had targeted the area on a number of previous occasions. An air raid shelter in the lower region of Sea Road near the railway line is reported as receiving a direct hit on 24 September 1940
The area was subsequently used for training troops that would be fighting in similar ruined villages during the Invasion of Europe in 1944.
Details of the bombing raids
- 24 September 1940 - 42 fatalities.
- 26 September 1940 - 55 fatalities, 49 seriously injured, 43 other casualties. This raid comprised the Heinkel He 111Heinkel He 111The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
bombers of Kampfgeschwader 55Kampfgeschwader 55Kampfgeschwader 55 "Greif" was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during World War II. The unit was one of the most famous in the Luftwaffe. The Heinkel He111 medium bomber was the standard bomber for this unit from its conception through to the last days of the war.- History :On 1 April 1934 a unit called...
escorted by the twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf110 heavy fighters of Zerstörergeschwader 26Zerstörergeschwader 26Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II.-History:Zerstörergeschwader 26 was formed in early 1936 from the Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund, II. Gruppe in Werl and III....
, 160 aircraft in total dropping 145 high explosive bombs.
Reports of casualties in the direct hit on the air raid shelter (24 September) are contradictory. One report has approx 100 fatalities and approx 50 wounded, coincidentally the total of the two raids as listed above: it may have been politically expedient to combine those figures. Another source simply reports many fatalities. The most reliable report, because it is based on local sources in Southampton rather than RAF sources, is that the shelter was largely unoccupied because the air raid warning was late.
Changes to street names
When Woolston was absorbed into Southampton in 1920, there were some duplicated street names. The following streets in the Itchen Ferry area were changed in 1924 to avoid the consequential confusion.| Current name | Previous name |
|---|---|
| Hazel Road | Elm Road |
| Laurel Road | Ivy Road |
| Sea Road | Hill Street |
| Tankerville Road | Britannia Road |
| Walpole Road | Avenue Road |
| Wharncliffe Road | Cliff Road |
Buildings
Photographs of the village taken before it was destroyed show;- an old Parsonage
- The Royal Oak Public HousePublic houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
- The Yacht TavernTavernA tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
- Bowers General Shop and Post OfficePost officeA post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
- The Red Lion Public HousePublic houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...