Portswood
Encyclopedia
Portswood is a suburb
and Electoral Ward
of Southampton
, England
. The suburb lies to the north-east of the city centre and is bounded by (clockwise from west) Freemantle
, Highfield, Swaythling
, St. Denys
and Bevois Valley
.
Portswood Ward comprises Portswood, Highfield and St. Denys
, and had a population of 14,384 as of the 2001 Census
. It is a largely residential area encompassing the main campus of the University of Southampton
, and as such more than a quarter of residents are students.
, St Denys and Highfield, was first named in a charter dating from 1045. The name Portswood comes from the Old English Porteswuda, meaning "wood of the town".
The manor was granted to St. Denys Priory by Richard I in 1189, and it remained under their ownership until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
by Henry VIII
in 1536. The land, and the title Lord of the Manor
, were purchased by Francis Dawtrey in 1538, and passed through several hands before being bought by Giles Stibbert
in 1771. Stibbert, Lieutenant-General with the East India Company
and later Commander-in-Chief of India
, built the first Portswood House on the estate to the design of a Mr. Crunden.
The house, which stood in the area now bounded by Spring Crescent and Lawn Road, was demolished in 1852 to make way for more housing, and the name Portswood House transferred to the nearby Portswood Lodge. The estate was gradually sold for development, and the second Portswood House was demolished in 1923, allowing the whole estate to be sold by 1928.
of South Stoneham, a parish more than ten times the size of Portswood Ward today, stretching as far as Eastleigh
to the north. A parliamentary paper from 1837 indicates that the Village of Portswood consisted of about thirty houses at this time, and in the 1861 Census, the population of the entire tithing was placed at 3,546.
The Local Government Act 1894
divided South Stoneham into multiple parts, and Portswood became a civil parish
in its own right. The population of Portswood civil parish
was 10,038 in 1891, grew to 17,958 in 1901, and had reached 22,501 by 1911. Portswood parish at that time included parts of Bitterne
and was approximately 1,037 acres (1.62 square miles) by comparison with today's 690 acres (1.08 square miles).
Today, Portswood is an electoral ward of the City of Southampton
, and falls within the Southampton Test constituency of the UK Parliament. The ward elects three councillors to Southampton City Council.
of the University of Southampton
. The University's first presence in Highfield
was in 1914, although the outbreak of the First World War
meant the site became a military hospital and was not used for lectures until 1920.
The ward has three state-run primary schools; Portswood Primary School on Somerset Road, Highfield School
on Hawthorn Road, and St Denys School on Dundee Road. There is also a small independent primary school, St Winifred's School, on Winn Road.
The nearest secondary schools are Cantell Secondary School
in Bassett
, and Bitterne Park School
.
funding in 1914 and the subsequent outbreak of the First World War
. Built immediately to the north of the old Palladium Cinema on Portswood Road, the building was designed by J A Crowther, the Borough Surveyor, on land acquired by Portswood councillor Sidney Kimber
following the break-up of the Portswood House estate.
Portswood Police Station on St Denys Road, run by the Hampshire Constabulary
, serves the local policing areas Banister Park & Bevois, Bassett, Highfield, St. Denys and Swaythling.
Portswood is served by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
and by the fire station in St Mary's.
Portswood once had two cinemas, both of which have since closed. While the Palladium Cinema (1913-1958) was converted into a supermarket and lost its distinctive facade, the old Broadway Cinema remains a prominent landmark. The cinema opened on June 6 1930 with a showing of the film Rookery Nook and remained open for 33 years until October 26 1963. It is now a Mecca Bingo Hall.
) are increasingly seen as the home to Southampton's burgeoning music scene, with many Portswood venues now offering regular live music and opportunities for local musicians in addition to nationally and internationally acclaimed acts.
Portswood has two dedicated live music venues—The Brook and Talking Heads, both on Portswood Road. The Brook is a 600-capacity venue which has seen performances from established rock figures Midge Ure
and Bill Wyman
, as well as more contemporary outfits such as The Hoosiers
and Mr. Scruff
. The venue went into liquidation in May 2007, but it was put on the market for £900,000, and was saved in August that year. Talking Heads is a smaller 260-capacity venue nearby that shares its name with the rock band
and hosts regular open mic and jazz nights.
There are a number of pubs in the area covering different tastes from sports bars, student-friendly pubs and real ale pubs. The main student club in Portswood is Clowns and Jesters nightclub, located on the Bevois Valley
Hill. Popular alternative clubs include The Dungeon which is downhill from Clowns and Jesters Nightclub.
, which is on the London to Weymouth mainline
and the West Coastway Line
. There are also regular bus services to the city centre and other parts of Southampton from Bluestar
, Uni-link
and First Group.
From 1879 to 1949, Portswood was home to one of the two Southampton Corporation Tramways
depots, and a tram service ran from the site on Portswood Road to Stag Gates, at the junction of the Avenue and Lodge Road. Many of the corporation's trams were built in the depot during this time. It was converted to a bus depot in 1949, and is now the head office of First Hampshire & Dorset
.
, chief designer of the Supermarine Spitfire
, lived at 2 Russell Place in Portswood during its development, and until his death in 1937. In 2005, English Heritage
commemorated Mitchell with a Blue Plaque
at his former home.
According to a report in the Daily Echo
, Coldplay
drummer Will Champion
used to live in Portswood, and used to attend a youth activities group at Highfield Church
.
Captain Edward John Smith, an English naval officer and ship's captain who commanded the RMS Titanic during her maiden voyage, lived in an imposing red brick, twin-gabled house known as "Woodhead" on Winn Road. The house no longer stands today and has been replaced with an apartment complex.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and Electoral Ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The suburb lies to the north-east of the city centre and is bounded by (clockwise from west) Freemantle
Freemantle
Freemantle is a suburb and electoral ward in Southampton, UK.Origins of the name are uncertain, but there are similarly named places in Hampshire, notably a suburb of Hannington and Freemantle Common in Bitterne...
, Highfield, Swaythling
Swaythling
Swaythling was once a village but over the years it has gradually become a suburb and electoral ward of Southampton in Hampshire, England. The ward has a population of 13,394....
, St. Denys
St. Denys, Southampton
St Denys is a district of Southampton, England, approximately 3 miles north of the city centre, opposite Bitterne Park on the River Itchen, to which it is linked by Cobden Bridge. It is now bounded by the river, and by the railway and A335 bypass, which divided part of the original parish from the...
and 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...
.
Portswood Ward comprises Portswood, Highfield and St. Denys
St. Denys, Southampton
St Denys is a district of Southampton, England, approximately 3 miles north of the city centre, opposite Bitterne Park on the River Itchen, to which it is linked by Cobden Bridge. It is now bounded by the river, and by the railway and A335 bypass, which divided part of the original parish from the...
, and had a population of 14,384 as of the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
. It is a largely residential area encompassing the main campus of the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, and as such more than a quarter of residents are students.
History
The Manor of Portswood, which originally included the modern-day Bevois Town, SwaythlingSwaythling
Swaythling was once a village but over the years it has gradually become a suburb and electoral ward of Southampton in Hampshire, England. The ward has a population of 13,394....
, St Denys and Highfield, was first named in a charter dating from 1045. The name Portswood comes from the Old English Porteswuda, meaning "wood of the town".
The manor was granted to St. Denys Priory by Richard I in 1189, and it remained under their ownership until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in 1536. The land, and the title Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
, were purchased by Francis Dawtrey in 1538, and passed through several hands before being bought by Giles Stibbert
Giles Stibbert
Lieutenant General Giles Stibbert was Commander-in-Chief, India.-Military career:Stibber arrived in India in 1756 and took part in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. He then raised a battalion of native infantry at Bankipore in 1761 and commanded them at the Siege of Patna where he was wounded in 1763...
in 1771. Stibbert, Lieutenant-General with the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and later Commander-in-Chief of India
Commander-in-Chief, India
During the period of the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India was the supreme commander of the Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at General Headquarters, India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India...
, built the first Portswood House on the estate to the design of a Mr. Crunden.
The house, which stood in the area now bounded by Spring Crescent and Lawn Road, was demolished in 1852 to make way for more housing, and the name Portswood House transferred to the nearby Portswood Lodge. The estate was gradually sold for development, and the second Portswood House was demolished in 1923, allowing the whole estate to be sold by 1928.
Governance
Prior to 1894, Portswood was a tithing in the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of South Stoneham, a parish more than ten times the size of Portswood Ward today, stretching as far as Eastleigh
Eastleigh
Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
to the north. A parliamentary paper from 1837 indicates that the Village of Portswood consisted of about thirty houses at this time, and in the 1861 Census, the population of the entire tithing was placed at 3,546.
The Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
divided South Stoneham into multiple parts, and Portswood became a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in its own right. The population of Portswood civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
was 10,038 in 1891, grew to 17,958 in 1901, and had reached 22,501 by 1911. Portswood parish at that time included parts of Bitterne
Bitterne
Bitterne is an eastern suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England.Bitterne derives its name not from the similarly named bird, the Bittern but from the bend in the River Itchen; the Old English words byht and ærn together mean "house near a bend", most likely a reference to Bitterne Manor...
and was approximately 1,037 acres (1.62 square miles) by comparison with today's 690 acres (1.08 square miles).
Today, Portswood is an electoral ward of the City 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...
, and falls within the Southampton Test constituency of the UK Parliament. The ward elects three councillors to Southampton City Council.
Education
Portswood Ward includes the main Highfield CampusHighfield Campus
Highfield Campus is the main campus of the University of Southampton, in Southampton, southern England; it is also the largest with the majority of University of Southampton students studying there as their main campus.-History:...
of the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
. The University's first presence in Highfield
Highfield, Southampton
Highfield is a suburb of Southampton, England. The suburb is situated to the north of the city centre, and is bounded by Southampton Common, Bassett, Swaythling and Portswood...
was in 1914, although the outbreak of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
meant the site became a military hospital and was not used for lectures until 1920.
The ward has three state-run primary schools; Portswood Primary School on Somerset Road, Highfield School
Highfield School
Highfield School is a Primary School located in the Highfield district of Southampton.-History:Stephen Ram of Ramford, County Wexford was a resident of Portswood Lodge in Highfield. Part of his estate included Small Gains Field which bordered Back Lane...
on Hawthorn Road, and St Denys School on Dundee Road. There is also a small independent primary school, St Winifred's School, on Winn Road.
The nearest secondary schools are Cantell Secondary School
Cantell Secondary School
Cantell School is a secondary comprehensive school in the Bassett area of Southampton, England. The School has Specialist status for Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology, awarded in September 2003 and is thus now officially referred to as Cantell Mathematics and Computing College...
in Bassett
Bassett
- Academia :* John Spencer Bassett , American professor at Trinity College * Joshua Bassett , English academic at Cambridge- Arts and entertainment :* Angela Bassett , American actress...
, and Bitterne Park School
Bitterne Park School
Bitterne Park School is a large mixed secondary comprehensive school in the Bitterne Park suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, in the south of England. The school now has Arts College status. The school last received an Ofsted inspection on 8 March 2006. The inspectors reported that "Bitterne...
.
Public services
Portswood Library opened on 25 October 1915 despite a failed application for CarnegieCarnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
funding in 1914 and the subsequent outbreak of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Built immediately to the north of the old Palladium Cinema on Portswood Road, the building was designed by J A Crowther, the Borough Surveyor, on land acquired by Portswood councillor Sidney Kimber
Sidney Kimber
Sir Sidney Guy Kimber was a British politician.Kimber first became a councillor in 1910. He served as mayor of Southampton for two consecutive terms, from November 1918 to November 1920. After serving as mayor, he became an alderman. He pioneered the building of the Civic Centre and the...
following the break-up of the Portswood House estate.
Portswood Police Station on St Denys Road, run by the Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
, serves the local policing areas Banister Park & Bevois, Bassett, Highfield, St. Denys and Swaythling.
Portswood is served by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England. The service's chief fire officer is John Bonney.-History:...
and by the fire station in St Mary's.
Landmarks
The lodge to the original Portswood House was preserved after the demolition of the house itself in 1852, and is now a Grade II listed building, standing at 324 Portswood Road.Portswood once had two cinemas, both of which have since closed. While the Palladium Cinema (1913-1958) was converted into a supermarket and lost its distinctive facade, the old Broadway Cinema remains a prominent landmark. The cinema opened on June 6 1930 with a showing of the film Rookery Nook and remained open for 33 years until October 26 1963. It is now a Mecca Bingo Hall.
Culture
Portswood (and neighbouring Bevois ValleyBevois 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...
) are increasingly seen as the home to Southampton's burgeoning music scene, with many Portswood venues now offering regular live music and opportunities for local musicians in addition to nationally and internationally acclaimed acts.
Portswood has two dedicated live music venues—The Brook and Talking Heads, both on Portswood Road. The Brook is a 600-capacity venue which has seen performances from established rock figures Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
and Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
, as well as more contemporary outfits such as The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers are an English pop/rock band, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes , Martin Skarendahl and Alan Sharland ....
and Mr. Scruff
Mr. Scruff
Mr. Scruff is the recording name of Andy Carthy , a British DJ and artist. He lives in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of Sheffield Hallam University...
. The venue went into liquidation in May 2007, but it was put on the market for £900,000, and was saved in August that year. Talking Heads is a smaller 260-capacity venue nearby that shares its name with the rock band
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
and hosts regular open mic and jazz nights.
There are a number of pubs in the area covering different tastes from sports bars, student-friendly pubs and real ale pubs. The main student club in Portswood is Clowns and Jesters nightclub, located on the 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...
Hill. Popular alternative clubs include The Dungeon which is downhill from Clowns and Jesters Nightclub.
Transport
The nearest railway station is St DenysSt Denys railway station
St Denys railway station is a railway station serving the St. Denys and Portswood suburbs of Southampton in Hampshire, England.Built in 1865, it is named after the surrounding area, which in turn is named after the Priory of St Denys, a major landmark in medieval Southampton.The station is at the...
, which is on the London to Weymouth mainline
South Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
and the West Coastway Line
West Coastway Line
The West Coastway Line is a railway line in England, along the south coast of West Sussex and Hampshire, between Brighton and Southampton, plus the short branches to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis....
. There are also regular bus services to the city centre and other parts of Southampton from Bluestar
Bluestar (bus company)
Bluestar is a trading name of Solent Blue Line Ltd. Based in Eastleigh, the company operates bus routes in Hampshire that previously traded under the Solent Blue Line name. Blue Line was started by bus company Southern Vectis as it sought to expand from the Isle of Wight in 1987...
, Uni-link
Uni-link
Uni-link is the brand for bus services run under contract for the University of Southampton in Southampton, Hampshire, England, by existing bus companies...
and First Group.
From 1879 to 1949, Portswood was home to one of the two Southampton Corporation Tramways
Southampton Corporation Tramways
Southampton Corporation Tramways were in operation from 1879 to 1949. They were initially horse-drawn, but latterly powered by electricity.-Background:...
depots, and a tram service ran from the site on Portswood Road to Stag Gates, at the junction of the Avenue and Lodge Road. Many of the corporation's trams were built in the depot during this time. It was converted to a bus depot in 1949, and is now the head office of First Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset is a subsidiary bus company within FirstGroup, which operates buses and trains throughout Great Britain.First Hampshire & Dorset has its head office in Empress Road, Southampton and operates bus services in the Weymouth and Bridport areas in Dorset; and services in...
.
Notable residents
R. J. MitchellR. J. Mitchell
Reginald Joseph Mitchell CBE, FRAeS, was an aeronautical engineer, best known for his design of the Supermarine Spitfire.-Early years:...
, chief designer of the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, lived at 2 Russell Place in Portswood during its development, and until his death in 1937. In 2005, English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
commemorated Mitchell with a Blue Plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
at his former home.
According to a report in the Daily Echo
Southern Daily Echo
The Southern Daily Echo, commonly known as the Daily Echo or simply The Echo, is a local newspaper that covers the area of south-central Hampshire, England, including the city of Southampton...
, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
drummer Will Champion
Will Champion
William "Will" Champion is an English musician and the drummer of rock band Coldplay.-Early life:William Champion was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, and was brought up in Highfield, Southampton, where his father, Timothy Champion, is a professor of archaeology...
used to live in Portswood, and used to attend a youth activities group at Highfield Church
Highfield Church
Highfield Church is a parish church in the Highfield district of Southampton, England. It is an Anglican Church in the Diocese of Winchester.- Early History :...
.
Captain Edward John Smith, an English naval officer and ship's captain who commanded the RMS Titanic during her maiden voyage, lived in an imposing red brick, twin-gabled house known as "Woodhead" on Winn Road. The house no longer stands today and has been replaced with an apartment complex.
External links
- portswood.info — Portswood's local community news website
- Vincenzo Capozzoli — Portswood's current serving councillor