The Polygon, Southampton
Encyclopedia
The Polygon is an area in the city
of Southampton
, England
.
The area is located just to the north of the railway station
and Commercial Road. Today it is a popular choice of residential location for much of the student population of Southampton Solent University
.
. Construction began in 1768, but only the hotel and three houses were completed when one of the investors went bankrupt and the project stalled. The hotel still opened in 1773, however, although it did not do very good business.
In the Victorian era, many more houses, typical of the time, were built on the surrounding land, forming the area and buildings known as The Polygon today.
The original Polygon Hotel was demolished in the 1780s, but a new Polygon Hotel was constructed in Victorian times. It was, at the time, a very famous place to stay in Southampton. Many passengers on the RMS Titanic had stayed here before sailing.
The hotel fell into decline, however, and was replaced in 1999 with a block of flats.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
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 area is located just to the north of the railway station
Southampton Central railway station
Southampton Central railway station is a main line railway station serving the city of Southampton in Hampshire, southern England. It is on the Wessex Main Line, the South Western Main Line and the West Coastway Line...
and Commercial Road. Today it is a popular choice of residential location for much of the student population of Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
.
History
The name originates from a planned grand 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) development in this area - a twelve-sided polygon that would comprise houses, hotels, assembly rooms and a tavern. The design was the brainchild of architect Jacob Leroux, who saw it as Southampton's answer to Bath's Royal CrescentRoyal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is a residential road of 30 houses laid out in a crescent in the city of Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom and is a grade I...
. Construction began in 1768, but only the hotel and three houses were completed when one of the investors went bankrupt and the project stalled. The hotel still opened in 1773, however, although it did not do very good business.
In the Victorian era, many more houses, typical of the time, were built on the surrounding land, forming the area and buildings known as The Polygon today.
The original Polygon Hotel was demolished in the 1780s, but a new Polygon Hotel was constructed in Victorian times. It was, at the time, a very famous place to stay in Southampton. Many passengers on the RMS Titanic had stayed here before sailing.
The hotel fell into decline, however, and was replaced in 1999 with a block of flats.