New Town, Southampton
Encyclopedia
Nicholstown-Newtown is a small area to the north-east of Southampton
's city centre
. To the north is Bevois Valley
, to the east Northam and to the west and south is St Mary's. In the north of Newtown is the Mount Pleasant area, which spills over into the north of Northam. Black signs saying "Welcome to Nicholstown-Newtown" http://www.connections-exhibition.org/parallels/cities/images/s_nicholstown_l.jpg demarcate the district on the roads running east from St. Mary's Rd - hence the district is bordered on the west by St. Mary's Road, the south by Six Dials road, and the east by the railway lines.
The area is dominated by the Royal South Hampshire Hospital
which was built in 1843-1844.
with high crime rates.. Frustrated with the inaction of the city council and police, over 2,000 people marched from Derby Road to the civic centre
. Following this "march of neglect", the Queen
visited the area and a cash injection of half a million pounds followed. However, by the 21st century, little had changed. In the year 2000 a report highlighted that the urban renewal area encompassing Nicholstown "exhibits both the highest levels of unfitness and disrepair ... in the city" and the area was still very much a red light district in 2004.
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...
's city centre
Southampton City Centre
Southampton City Centre is the commercial and organisational centre of the City of Southampton, and the transport hub of the city. Because Southampton is on the South Coast of England, the city centre is not at the geometric centre of the city, but at the southern extremity.The traditional heart...
. To the north is Bevois Valley
Bevois Valley
Bevois Valley is an inner city area of Southampton, England within Bevois Electoral Ward, and includes areas called Bevois Town & Bevois Mount. The area lies south of and adjoins Portswood and is within easy walking distance of the city centre...
, to the east Northam and to the west and south is St Mary's. In the north of Newtown is the Mount Pleasant area, which spills over into the north of Northam. Black signs saying "Welcome to Nicholstown-Newtown" http://www.connections-exhibition.org/parallels/cities/images/s_nicholstown_l.jpg demarcate the district on the roads running east from St. Mary's Rd - hence the district is bordered on the west by St. Mary's Road, the south by Six Dials road, and the east by the railway lines.
The area is dominated by the Royal South Hampshire Hospital
Royal South Hampshire Hospital
The Royal South Hants Hospital, known locally as "The RSH", is an acute hospital in Southampton. It has been managed by Southampton City Primary Care Trust since 31 March 2007 with some additional services being provided by the Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust...
which was built in 1843-1844.
History
In the 1960s and 1970s the area was notorious as Southampton's red-light districtRed-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
with high crime rates.. Frustrated with the inaction of the city council and police, over 2,000 people marched from Derby Road to the civic centre
Civic Centre, Southampton
The Civic Centre in Southampton is the home of Southampton City Council.It hosts a police station, council offices, the Guildhall venue, the well-endowed city art gallery, and the city library...
. Following this "march of neglect", the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
visited the area and a cash injection of half a million pounds followed. However, by the 21st century, little had changed. In the year 2000 a report highlighted that the urban renewal area encompassing Nicholstown "exhibits both the highest levels of unfitness and disrepair ... in the city" and the area was still very much a red light district in 2004.