Shirley, Southampton
Encyclopedia
Shirley is a district on the Western side of Southampton
, England
. Shirley's main roles are retailing and residential. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Housing is a mixture of council house
s in the centre of the district surrounded by private housing, with larger suburban houses concentrated in Upper Shirley. Shirley is separated from Highfield by Southampton Common
, a large green park-like area which sees many dog-walkers and joggers.
It is part of the Southampton Test constituency, with Alan Whitehead
as Member of Parliament
.
scir (bright) and leah (cleared land in a wood).
Shirley is recorded as a manor with a mill in the Domesday book, 1086. Shirley Mill originally stood to the east of the present Romsey Road / Winchester Road junction, at the confluence of the Hollybrook and Tanner's Brook streams. Shirley Mill had three large ponds, to the north of Winchester Road. Only one of those three mill ponds remains today, accessible by following the Lordswood Greenway. In the nineteenth century an iron works was built, which was converted into a brewery in 1880 and subsequently into a laundry at the beginning of the 20th Century. The laundry was owned by Royal Mail
and used to service the mail ships visiting Southampton
.
The outflow from the mill was crossed by a ford on the Romsey Road. The stream is presently culverted under the major traffic junction which presently stands there, and continues to the Test to the east of modern Tebourba Way, open in parts and culverted in others.
The district grew rapidly in the 1830s following the enclosure
of Shirley Common (not to be confused with Southampton Common
) in 1829. The parish church was built in 1836. The Shirley Local board of health was established in 1853. It merged with Freemantle
in 1880. Shirley and Freemantle Urban District Council
was formed on 2 January 1895 but was abolished on 8 November 1895 when the district became a suburb
of Southampton.
In 1887 a drinking fountain was constructed to celebrate the Golden Jubilee
of Queen Victoria. Originally in Shirley High Street, the fountain has now been incorporated into the shopping precinct. The fountain is Grade II listed.
The council estate was built in the 1960s to replace relatively dense terraced housing.
(formerly Bellemoor Boys School), Taunton's College
and the 450-year-old King Edward VI School
. The area is also served by Regents Park Community College
(formerly Regents park Girls School).
Shirley also has a mixture of both infant schools and junior schools for mixed abilities and genders.
winning footballer Alan Ball (1945-2007) and the comedian Benny Hill
(1924-1992).http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GScid=638944
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...
. Shirley's main roles are retailing and residential. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Housing is a mixture of council house
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
s in the centre of the district surrounded by private housing, with larger suburban houses concentrated in Upper Shirley. Shirley is separated from Highfield by Southampton Common
Southampton Common
Southampton Common is a large open space to the north of the city centre of Southampton, England. It is bounded by the districts of Shirley, Bassett, Highfield and Portswood. The area supports a large variety of wildlife, including the largest recorded population of the internationally rare great...
, a large green park-like area which sees many dog-walkers and joggers.
It is part of the Southampton Test constituency, with Alan Whitehead
Alan Whitehead
Alan Patrick Vincent Whitehead is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Southampton Test since 1997.-Early life:...
as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
History
The place-name Shirley means 'bright glade', from the Old EnglishOld English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
scir (bright) and leah (cleared land in a wood).
Shirley is recorded as a manor with a mill in the Domesday book, 1086. Shirley Mill originally stood to the east of the present Romsey Road / Winchester Road junction, at the confluence of the Hollybrook and Tanner's Brook streams. Shirley Mill had three large ponds, to the north of Winchester Road. Only one of those three mill ponds remains today, accessible by following the Lordswood Greenway. In the nineteenth century an iron works was built, which was converted into a brewery in 1880 and subsequently into a laundry at the beginning of the 20th Century. The laundry was owned by Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
and used to service the mail ships visiting 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...
.
The outflow from the mill was crossed by a ford on the Romsey Road. The stream is presently culverted under the major traffic junction which presently stands there, and continues to the Test to the east of modern Tebourba Way, open in parts and culverted in others.
The district grew rapidly in the 1830s following the enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
of Shirley Common (not to be confused with Southampton Common
Southampton Common
Southampton Common is a large open space to the north of the city centre of Southampton, England. It is bounded by the districts of Shirley, Bassett, Highfield and Portswood. The area supports a large variety of wildlife, including the largest recorded population of the internationally rare great...
) in 1829. The parish church was built in 1836. The Shirley Local board of health was established in 1853. It merged with 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...
in 1880. Shirley and Freemantle Urban District Council
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
was formed on 2 January 1895 but was abolished on 8 November 1895 when the district became a suburb
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...
of Southampton.
In 1887 a drinking fountain was constructed to celebrate the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
of Queen Victoria. Originally in Shirley High Street, the fountain has now been incorporated into the shopping precinct. The fountain is Grade II listed.
The council estate was built in the 1960s to replace relatively dense terraced housing.
Education
Shirley is home to several schools including Upper Shirley High SchoolUpper Shirley High School
Upper Shirley High School is a ‘new’ coeducational school serving the local community of Upper Shirley in Southampton. Formerly Bellemoor School, Upper Shirley High officially opened its doors under the new name from September 2008.-Academics:...
(formerly Bellemoor Boys School), Taunton's College
Taunton's College
Taunton's College is a sixth form college in Upper Shirley, Southampton attended by approximately 1340 students.-Admissions:It offers a range of courses, mostly A Levels and more notably the International Baccalaureate...
and the 450-year-old King Edward VI School
King Edward VI School, Southampton
King Edward VI School, often referred to as King Edward's, or simply KES, is a selective co-educational independent day School located in Southampton, United Kingdom and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It was founded in 1553, after the death of William Capon , who...
. The area is also served by Regents Park Community College
Regents Park Community College
Regents Park Community College is a Mixed Comprehensive School in West Southampton, Hampshire, in the south of England. The most recent Ofsted inspection was on 19 September 2006 when the inspectors reported that "The school is an outstanding school. The students make outstanding progress and...
(formerly Regents park Girls School).
Shirley also has a mixture of both infant schools and junior schools for mixed abilities and genders.
Cemetery
The nearby Hollybrook Cemetery is notable for being the resting place of several famous individuals, including the 1966 World Cup1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
winning footballer Alan Ball (1945-2007) and the comedian Benny Hill
Benny Hill
Benny Hill was an English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme The Benny Hill Show.-Early life:...
(1924-1992).http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GScid=638944