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Before Holy Rood
£16.99 Add to basket Author: Dave Marden Southampton’s Holy Rood housing estate covers a wide area east of the old town. Built in the late 1950s and early l960s, it replaced a mixture of crumbling Victorian terraces, tenements and courts that at one time formed the town’s most densely populated district. Aflluence and poverty mingled side-by-side until it was all swept away by slum clearances, bombs and modemisation. Local historian Dave Marden looks back on what was there. Dave’s previous titles cover several areas of Southampton, including Chapel, Kingsland and St Mary’s, whose old streets are now just memories of those who witnessed them. 316 pages. Softback, 233 x 155 mm. First published 2025 -
Bloody but Unbowed
£15.00 Add to basket Authors: Richard Henry, Any Russel, Andy Skinner, Jo Smith The forgotten victims of the Southampton Blitz Between 1940 and 1945, Southampton endured sixty-four air raids that reshaped the town forever. In those desperate years, 664 civilians were killed and more than 45,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Seven parish churches were lost, whole neighbourhoods were reduced to rubble, and a once-bustling port became a landscape of ruins and resilience. Bloody but Unbowed traces the experiences of those who endured the Blitz, the lives shattered, the families displaced, and the town that refused to give in. Drawing on contemporary reports, local archives, and hundreds of rarely seen photographs from the City Council's collection, it records each raid in turn, charting the growing toll on the people and the place they called home. This book restores to memory the ordinary men, women, and children whose lives were torn apart by the Blitz. It also follows the town's painstaking recovery, from the first efforts to clear more than a million tons of rubble to the rebuilding that gave post-war Southampton its modern shape. Detailed, moving, and richly illustrated, Bloody but Unbowed is both a memorial and a testament to the endurance of a town that was devastated but unbroken. 142 pages. Softback, 278 x 211 mm. First published 2025 -
A Walk Around the City Parks
£14.00 Add to basket Author: Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes From the Authors of A Walk Up the Avenue and A Walk Around the Common Southampton's Central Parks have Grade II* listed status as exceptional examples of early municipal parks but also are thought to be unique in that they replicate the pattern of the walled town's medieval fields. Thls book explores the history of these parks in the heart of the modern city but also looks at some more recently developed green spaces in easy walking distance of the centre. 122 pages. Softback, 210 x 150 mm. First published 2024 -
A Walk Through Southampton
£15.99 Add to basket Author: Andy Skinner & Richard Henry ln 1801 the antiquarian and astronomer Sir Henry Engletield wrote a beautifully illustrated walking tour leading readers through the streets of Southampton. He offered insights into the town's fascinating historical past, including some fanciful stories about the buildings he was exploring. Since then, much of the fabric ot the town has changed with many ot the elements he highlighted having been removed through the slum clearances of the twentieth century and bombing during the Second World War. In this book, we retrace Sir Henry's footsteps and examine key sites, such as the Bargate, Watergate, the town walls, Church ot All Saints, Holy Rood Church, the medieval friary and sugar house, and the medieval vaults, as well as other curiosities he mentions, such as a cannon ot Henry Vlll and the arms granted by Elizabeth I. Featuring a vivid selection of fascinating illustrations and 3D images and links to the city's museum collections, here the Southampton of the past is brought to life. Join us on a walking tour through the historic town and find out how the modern city of Southampton has changed over the past 200 years. 95 pages. Softback, 233 x 165 mm. First published 2026 -
A Walk Up The Avenue
£12.00 Add to basket Author: Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes Southampton's Ornament This is a guide book to take you on a wondrous journey through the past to the present along Southampton's most famous road, the Avenue. Fascinating points of interest are discussed in detail accompanied by lavish illustrations. Ring bound for ease of carrying while walking. 89 pages. Softback, 210 x 150 mm. First published 2021 -
Local Paper No.50 – History of Christ the King Catholic Church
£2.50 Add to basket Author: BLHS A history of the Catholic Church east of the River Itchen, 1856 to 1985, including details of the building and opening of Christ the King Church in Bitterne 28 A5 pages. First published 2026
BLHS Papers
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Local Paper No.1 – Pound Street Between The Wars
£2.00 Add to basket Author: BLHS Personal reminiscences of this well known Bitterne street and their life as children, by some former residents. 16 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.2 – Bitterne Football – A Glimpse Of The Past
£1.00 Add to basket Author: Ken Prior The history of football in Bitterne, from 1880 to the present day. A useful source of names for genealogists. 40 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.3 – Bitterne Safari
£0.50 Add to basket Author: Stanley Wincott An interesting booklet detailing the wildlife found around Bitterne - insects, spiders, mammals, bats and birds. 52 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.4 – Bitterne Cricket – A Double Century Not Out
£0.50 Add to basket Author: Ken Prior A nostalgic look at the players and teams that helped to shape cricket in Bitterne over the past 200 years. 40 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.5 – A Bend In The River
£1.00 Add to basket Author: John Holt & Ann Cole A must for anyone interested in the history of Bitterne. This book covers the past 2,000 years, from the Roman Clausentum to the present day. NOTE THAT THIS IS THE PRINTED VERSION — IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE dvd THEN CLICK HERE bitterne.net/product/a-bend-in-the-river/ 52 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.6 – Bitterne Games – A Truly Sporting Life
£0.50 Add to basket Author: Ken Prior This booklet outlines the history of Bitterne's sporting activities, including club activities such as whist and snooker; tennis, bowls, boxing, running, shooting, cycling and golf. 36 A4 pages -
Local Paper No.7 – The Bitterne Village Cookbook
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Jean Abrahams A collection of recipes compiled by Society members, used and enjoyed by members and their families for many years. Some go back to the war years when food was in short supply and rationed. The book also contains adverts from cookery books between c.1894 and 1920. 50 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.8 – Bitterne Carnival, Community & Fetes
£0.50 Add to basket Author: Ken Prior Village life has traditionally been characterised by the community linking together to form clubs and societies, holding events such as fêtes, carnivals etc. and Bitterne Village was typical of this. This modest book contains details and photos of such events from the end of the 19th century, with historical notes. 26 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.9 – Southampton & District Air Raids
£5.00 Add to basket Author: Harold Blackmore A diary of the air-raids and alerts that took place in Southampton and surrounding districts for the period 26.02.1940 to 10.11.1944. The author has also provided details of the bombs used by the German Air Force, the aircraft bombloads and information about the local Fire & Rescue Services, Police and Light & Heavy Rescue Services. 58 A4 pages -
Local Paper No.10 – The Sad Tale Of Richard Parker
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Jim Brown An account of the tragic death of 17 year old Richard Parker of Itchen Ferry Village, who died at sea on July 25th 1884 after being shipwrecked in the tropics on the yacht 'Mignonette'. After a 19 days ordeal in an open boat he was killed and eaten by his shipmates, who were later convicted of his murder at a sensational trial. 18 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.11 – A Diary Of Bitterne Part I (43AD To 1899)
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Eric Thompson A chronicle of events that happened in, and affected the residents of, Bitterne and surrounding area for the period 43AD to 1899. 44 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.12 – Index To Plan Of The Parish Of South Stoneham (facsimile reprint)
£0.50 Add to basket Author: Ordnance Survey of England Contains a description for each of the numbered areas on the 25 inches to the mile map as well as totals for the area and an index to places. 24 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.13 – A Walk Around Bitterne
£3.00 Add to basket Author: Keith Marsh The map and guide to a 2 mile walk around Bitterne Village, starting and finishing at the Red Lion in Bitterne Precinct. It recounts important events, describes past and present buildings and draws attention to relics of a bygone age. 32 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.14 – A Vista – Bitterne Parish Church 1853-1953 (facsimile reprint)
£2.00 Add to basket Author: BLHS A reproduction of the centenary booklet published by Bitterne Parish Church as part of its celebrations for the period 1853-1953. It contains many interesting facts about the church and the area it served. 34 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.15 – Bitterne Methodism (facsimile reprint)
£2.00 Add to basket Author: BLHS A facsimile reprint of the booklets produced by Bitterne Methodist Church as part of their 150th and 175th anniversary celebrations. It contains many interesting facts about the church and the surrounding area. 36 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.16 – A Diary Of Bitterne Part II (1900-1939)
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Eric Thompson A chronicle of events that happened in and affected the residents of Bitterne and surrounding area for the period 1900 to 1939. 44 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.17 – Southampton Show 1957 (Souvenir Programme Reprint)
£0.50 Add to basket Author: BLHS A facsimile reproduction of the official programme available at the 17th Southampton Show held on Southampton Common in July 1957. It well illustrates the range of activities held at this period. 24 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.18 – Bridging The Itchen
£3.50 Add to basket Author: Jim Brown This interesting booklet describes the various ways in which Southampton's River Itchen has been crossed over the centuries, ranging from a suspected 2nd century Roman ferry at Clausentum (Bitterne Manor) to the new and massive Itchen Bridge opened in 1977. Well illustrated. 32 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.19 – Bitterne Nomads Football Club
£1.00 Add to basket Author: Ken Prior A detailed chronological record of results, goal scorers and match reports for the period 1939-1947. It includes F.A. Cup matches against Newport and Basingstoke, along with reports of wartime matches, including a Southampton Senior Cup Final played at the Dell. A small book but packed with factual detail. 44 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.20 – Bitterne On The Map
Original price was: £4.50.£2.00Current price is: £2.00. Add to basket Author: Keith Marsh A cartographic 'voyage of discovery', charting the transition of Bitterne from Common Land to Village, and thence to a major district of Southampton. This collection of maps includes not only Ordnance Survey County Series but a few 'specials' of plans that did not come to fruition. Accompanying each map are notes drawing attention to interesting features. 68 A4 pages -
Local Paper No.21 – The Streets Around Bitterne – Part I – (A-K)
£2.50 Add to basket Author: Keith Marsh More than just a list of all the roads and streets in and around Bitterne, including Bitterne Manor, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Merry Oak, Midanbury, Peartree, Townhill Park and West End Park. There are notes on the history and the origin of its name for many of the roads, including many roads that have long since disappeared or suffered a name change. This volume covers Aberdour Close to Kootenay Rise. 44 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.22 – The Streets Around Bitterne – Part II – (L-Z)
£2.50 Add to basket Author: Keith Marsh More than just a list of all the roads and streets in and around Bitterne, including Bitterne Manor, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Merry Oak, Midanbury, Peartree, Townhill Park and West End Park. There are notes on the history and the origin of its name for many of the roads, including many roads that have long since disappeared or suffered a name change. This volume covers Lacon Close to York Road. 40 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.23 – Bitterne – A Series Of Personal Reminiscences (Reprint)
£2.50 Add to basket Author: The Southampton Local Studies Group A historical introduction outlines the history of Bitterne, with notes on some notable buildings and their occupants. There then follows a series of personal reminiscences of old villagers, giving an insight into the lives of Bitterne families and some of its characters. 42 A4 pages -
Local Paper No.24 – ‘How Much Was That Then?’
£2.50 Add to basket Author: Keith Marsh This book was inspired by the numerous enquiries dealt with at the Bitterne Local History Society Heritage & Research Centre concerning the prices of various items through the ages. The prices researched range from the 17th century through to 1998, and together with various old advertisements give a fascinating range of comparisons. 32 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.25 – Beecham’s Help To Scholars (facsimile reprint)
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Keith Marsh A fascinating look at weights, measures and mathematical tables, now almost forgotten. Combined with these tables are pages of facts that every schoolchild had to learn - and promptly forgot! Interesting for family and local historians. 52 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.26 – Bitterne Wills – 1575-1856, transcribed
£3.00 Add to basket Author: Sue Collins A transcript of 33 wills made in Bitterne, from the Hampshire Record Office Wills Index, between the 16th and 19th centuries. They provide a fascinating insight into the possessions and their disposal for these periods. 28 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.27 – A Diary Of Bitterne Part III (1940 to 1959)
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Eric Thompson A chronicle of events that happened in and affected the residents of Bitterne and surrounding area for the period 1940 to 1959. 36 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.29 – The National Roll Of The Great War 1914-1918 – Bitterne Residents
£4.00 Add to basket Compiler: Keith Marsh A list of Bitterne residents who served in the Great War, giving their rank, branch of the armed services, résumé of their war service and their home address. A 'must' for genealogists. 32 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.28 – Townhill Park House
£3.00 Add to basket Authors: Ralph Coney & Jim Brown An account of the origins and history of Townhill Park House over the past 200 years. Detailed information is given of its occupancy by Lord & Lady Swaythling, with illustrations of the house and grounds during the height of its splendour. 24 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.30 – Warden & Fire Guard Services Review (facsimile reprint)
£2.50 Add to basket Author: Chief Inspector T. Swanton, MBE A facsimile, with permission of Southampton City Council, of a booklet published in 1945. It explains the organisation of the Southampton Air Raid Precautions (ARP) and Fire Service, with detailed information about the town's ARP Divisions, the Warden's establishment, exercises carried out in 1937/8, a précis of the main air-raids, detailed descriptions of the various bombs & explosives used, and statistics of air-raid casualties and building damage. It also names the many Principal Officers of the organisations, together with details of the awards and commendations they received. This booklet is a must for those who lived through this period of Southampton's history and those whose parents/grandparents served in either of these local services. 50 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.31 – Memories of Merry Oak Estate
£4.99 Add to basket Author: Joan Rolfe The story of the Estate following the its construction and the people who moved in and stayed for the duration of WW2. It gives many memories of the people who lived there. 48 A4 pages -
Local Paper No.32 – Bitterne Brewery
£2.50 Add to basket Author: BLHS Facsimile reprint of the brochure celebrating the re-opening in 1952, containing interesting adverts. 20 A5 pages -
Local Paper No.34 – The Diaper Family Of Itchen & Woolston
£2.00 Add to basket Author: Ann Galbraith A personal family history that gives good background information on the well-known Diaper family of this area. 16 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.35 – Risdon Beazley Ltd, Clausentum Yard, Bitterne Manor
£4.99 Add to basket Authors: Roy Martin & Lyle Craigie-Halkett A detailed history of the salvage company founded by Risdon Archibald BEAZLEY, CBE, in 1926 until it ceased operations in 1981. The company's recovery vessels travelled the world and had an international reputation. By 1944 they were operating more than 60 salvage ships from their Bitterne Manor base, where they also built 22 Fairmile MTB's. Of the 21 Admiralty salvage ships that crossed the channel on D-Day, 11 were managed by Risdon Beazley. One of their most noteworthy achievements was the recovery of the SS Great Britain in 1969 in the Falklands. This was the first ship of more than 1,000 tons to be salvaged on a submersible pontoon and its return to Bristol is the world record for the longest tow with that type of load by a stern trawler. This important part of our marine history is covered in depth and makes essential reading for any marine enthusiast. 44 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.36 – Building The Itchen Bridge
£4.99 Add to basket Authors: Paul Ravenscroft and Jim Brown A pictorial account of the building of the massive Itchen Bridge, based on 1,500 slides taken by the late Paul Ravenscroft during every stage of its construction. Paul took views of the advance work carried out on both sides of the River Itchen in the 1970s, when the area resembled a war zone, and this shows now vanished Supermarine Works and Floating Bridges. The slides show how the 62,000 ton bridge was constructed in sections and assembled, involving many thousand man-hours, and when it was opened in May 1977 and officially named by Princess Alexandra that July. 56 A4 pages -
Local Paper No.37 – The Second World War Roll Of Honour For Southampton
£4.50 Add to basket Compiler: Keith Marsh The duty of recording the names of the civilian war dead of the British Commonwealth and Empire was entrusted by Royal Charter in February 1941 to the Imperial War Graves Commission. Although the graves are scattered around the country this booklet contains the Roll of Honour of those Southampton civilians who were killed by enemy action during the 1939-45 war while engaged in household or business activities, or at their posts as members of the Civil Defence Services. 46 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.38 – William Thomas Congregational Minister At Bitterne 1891-93
£3.00 Add to basket Author: Keith Le May Drawn partly from surviving records of Lymington's Old Town Independent Chapel, its successor the town's Congregational Church, together with those of the Hampshire Congregational Union, other local records and family memorabilia, this book gives an account of William Thomas (1823-1894) and his family. William was the travelling evangelist in the 1870s, based at Bursledon, and 14 years later became minister at Bitterne. 16 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.39 – The Southampton Garden Suburb, Also Known As The Chessel Estate
£4.99 Add to basket Author: Keith Le May This well illustrated account of the development of Bitterne's Chessel Estate is competently researched and traces the growth of the area from the last decade of the 18th century to the present day. The author explains how David Lance, retired from the East India Company, called his 93 acre estate Chessel, and how it was purchased in 1911 by the Yeovil firm Southampton Garden Suburb Ltd. He outlines the construction of individual properties, and their occupants, resulting in a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the area. A book of some interest to all those resident there. 36 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.40 – Juan Manuel De Rosas, The Ousted Dictator
Original price was: £4.99.£2.50Current price is: £2.50. Add to basket Author: Dave Jacobs This is a well researched account of the Argentinean Dictator's exile in Southampton from 1852, his family life, how he escaped from Buenos Aires, his home in Carlton Crescent and his farm in Burgess Street, Swaythling. He died on 14 March 1877 in Southampton and was buried in an impressive vault in Southampton Old Cemetery. In 1989, when the political situation changed in Argentina, his coffin was exhumed and he was reburied in the family tomb in La Recolata Cemetery, Buenos Aires. It is nicely illustrated with colour photos. 36 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.41 – It’s A Hard Knock Life, Childhood Reminiscences Of Southampton, Brockenhurst And Lyndhurst
£3.99 Read more Author: Sheila Hansford, née Souch This personal account of the author's early life in Kathleen Road and Knighton Road, Sholing during the war years, when her Grandfather was the manager of Lankester & Crook's Alexandra Bakery, Portsmouth Road, is a poignant tale, with her mother dying in 1941 at the early age of 28, when the author was only four years old. The book also contains interesting extracts from her mother's war diary, detailing incidents in Woolston and Sholing. The author and her younger sister were later adopted by her grandparents, who she always knew as Mum and Dad, but when their mother (Grandmother) also died suddenly in 1949 the girls were placed in a privately run Quaker Home for 20 girls in Brockenhurst. This was later relocated to Lyndhurst and the book details what life was like for young girls in that situation. Overall a fascinating account. 56 A4 pages. -
Local Paper No.42 – 150 Years Of Bitterne United Reformed Church (Congregational) 1863-2013
£2.50 Add to basket Author: BLHS This very well illustrated book traces the history of the 17th Century Congregationalists in Bitterne from their beginning in rented rooms in 1850, leading to the construction of their Sunday School in Commercial Street in 1854 and the subsequent church on 5 April 1863. The final service in the building in May 1982 was followed by the opening of the present church in 1986. Photos of the various church groups and Ministers make the book a nostalgic trip down memory lane for current members and an excellent celebration of the church's 150th Anniversary. 24 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.44 – Supermarine Seen Through The Eyes Of BLHS Members
£4.00 Add to basket Editor: Steve Adams A collection of articles that have appeared in 'Bygone Bitterne' between 1999 and 2018 on the subject of Supermarine, written by people who worked there before, during and after the war. 44 A5 pages. -
Local Paper No.45 – Chessel House
£4.00 Add to basket Author: Garth Groombridge The first of a series of books by garth on Southampton Houses East of the Itchen. The book follows Chessel House and the families that occupied it, from its construction for David Lance in 1797 to the building of the Southampton Garden Estate. 20 A5 pages. First published 2022. -
Local Paper No.46 – Midanbury House
£3.50 Add to basket Author: Garth Groombridge The second in a series of books by Garth on Southampton Houses East of the Itchen. The book follows Midanbury House and its more famous Lodge, The Castle, and the families that occupied it, from construction to demolition and replacement by housing. 52 A5 pages. First published 2023 -
Local Paper No.47 – Thornhill Park House
£3.00 Add to basket Author: Garth Groombridge The third in a series of books by Garth on Southampton Houses East of the Itchen. The book follows Thornhill Park House and its estate that covered much of the land between Moorhill Road and Bursledon Road. 36 A5 pages. First published 2024 -
Local Paper No.50 – History of Christ the King Catholic Church
£2.50 Add to basket Author: BLHS A history of the Catholic Church east of the River Itchen, 1856 to 1985, including details of the building and opening of Christ the King Church in Bitterne 28 A5 pages. First published 2026
BLHS Books
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Bitterne & West End Through Time
Original price was: £7.50.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Add to basket Author: BLHS / WELHS A fascinating selection of more than 180 photographs traces some of the many ways in which Bitterne and West End have changed and developed over the last century. 96 pages. Softback, 235 x 165mm First published 2009 -
Bitterne: A Village Remembered
£5.00 Add to basket Author: BLHS Photographs and information about shops, houses, people and the roads in Bitterne, before the Bypass was built in 1982. Views of properties now demolished and roads now changed beyond all recognition make this a nostalgic trip for all former residents of the period. The many reproductions of shop advertisements and receipts will also arouse many recollections of a time when shopping was totally different from that in modern supermarkets. 100 A4 pages. First published in 1983. -
The Book of Bitterne
Original price was: £19.99.£12.00Current price is: £12.00. Add to basket Author: BLHS Few people who visit the bustling Southampton suburb of Bitterne would be aware of its rich and varied history. Its first inhabitants were the Romans who in 43AD established the town of Clausentum. On the same promontory, Bitterne Manor House was built in medieval times for the Bishop of Winchester. Southampton’s spa period (1750-74) sparked Bitterne’s revival. Gentry visiting the town built mansions and the opening of Northam Bridge and the roads to Botley and Bursledon in 1799 increased the development. With these grand houses came tradesmen and servants, resulting in the village of Bitterne, up the hill from the manor house. The arrival of the railway in 1866 and other transport improvements encour- aged further expansion. By the 1960s traffic was gridlocked through the shopping area and a bypass was being talked about, though it was twenty years before it became a reality. Through words and pictures, the story of Bitterne comes alive in this wonderful book — the weddings and celebrations, schools and businesses, clubs and societies, worthies and characters, churches and chapels, and pubs and pastimes, that over the years have made Bitterne a true and vibrant community. 160 pages. 303mm x 215mm. First published in 2007. -
Memories Of Merry Oak (School)
£1.50 Add to basket Author: Reg Ward Photographs and recollections of Merry Oak School 1935-1952, by a former teacher at the school. The reminiscences and subsequent careers of many contributors will interest their former school companions and the book is a must for all ex-pupils and staff of this period. 60 A4 pages. -
Silver Jubilee 1981 – 2006
£1.50 Add to basket Author: BLHS A brochure produced to celebrate twenty-five years of Bitterne Local History Society containing over 100 photographs tracing its history. Many pictures of Society members over the years at a wide variety of events, includes a number of colour photographs 32 A5 pages, softback. First Published 2006. -
Southampton Memorials Of Care For Man And Beast
£1.00 Add to basket Author: A.G.K. Leonard Something new in Southampton's history, a whole book about drinking fountains and horse troughs. Surviving blitz and redevelopment, there are 14 of them still to be found around the city, 11 of them officially Grade II listed as buildings of special historic and architectural interest. Local historian Alan Leonard, author of many local history books, has thoroughly researched the history of the memorials, as well as those who donated them, and this account contains much not previously published, with a wealth of fascinating illustrations and photographs. 72 A4 pages. First published 2005. -
The Story Of Merry Oak School
£2.50 Read more Author: Eddie Croxson This Southampton School closed in 1984 and among the artefacts that Bitterne Local History Society acquired was a complete set of the school magazines that were published annually from 1948 until closure. Opening and reading these magazines is like opening a time capsule buried for future generations. Eddie Croxson has successfully extracted articles, including the photographs, showing the changes to education nationally and locally after the 1939-45 war and many stories and articles written by the pupils themselves. The book also includes reports from the four Headmasters covering this period, Mr Permain, Mr Haslam, Mr Ford and Mr Shaw. A book to be enjoyed by past pupils and staff of this period! 58 A4 pages. First published 2000
BLHS DVD
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A Bend In The River
£9.99 Add to basket Author: BLHS "A Bend in the River" was the title given to an audio-visual performance at Bitterne Parish Church in October 1973. A booklet to accompany the performance covered the history of Bitterne from Roman port at Bitterne Manor through to its eventual incorporation into the Borough of Southampton as a busy modern suburb and later was published in video form. A lot has changed over the years since this was first produced (in VHS format!) but it is still a very valuable history of our village. NOTE THAT THIS IS A DVD — IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BOOKLET CLICK HERE bitterne.net/product/no-5-a-bend-in-the-river/ DVD 51 minutes.
OTHER LOCAL BOOKS
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Southampton’s Changing Faces
Original price was: £14.95.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Add to basket Author: Jim Brown The book shows how building developments, some dramatic, have transformed areas of the city over the years. Local historian Jim Brown has had access to local collections containing a number of unpublished views and his modern photos taken from, as nearly as possible, the same position as the older pictures, sometimes reveal startling changes. Southampton suffered widespread damage during World War Two, when Hitler's Blitzkrieg was unleashed on the town's docks and infrastructure, and the subsequent post-war reconstruction altered many areas beyond recognition. Further changes came in the 1950s when a new ring road was constructed around the city centre to cope with ever-increasing traffic demands, with the resultant demolition of many properties. More changes occurred in the 1970s when the massive Itchen Bridge was built to provide an improved connection east of the city, and this involved the sweeping away of a number of buildings to provide the two approaches to the new bridge. The Bitterne area of the town was also transformed in the 1980s when a new bypass tore through the former Bitterne Village. Fortunately some individuals had the foresight to take photos before properties were demolished, and these have provided Jim Brown with invaluable material. The book contains over 300 illustrations and is sure to appeal to all those who remember how Southampton has changed over the years, as well as giving younger readers a fascinating insight into the city's past. 159 pages. Hardback 266 x 200 mm. First published 2005 -
More Southampton’s Changing Faces
Original price was: £14.99.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Add to basket Author: Jim Brown This book, a sequel to his Southampton's Changing Faces (above), is a joint publication with Southampton City Council and Jin Brown has thus been able to draw heavily on the massive photographic collection held by the City Heritage Services, particularly the Archive Service. As a result the book contains many previously unpublished pictures, more than the previous book, with nearly 400 illustrations. Large areas of the lower town and upper Shirley were extensively developed in the post-war era, with large tower blocks or flats replacing the terraced houses, corner shops and public houses. Fortunately the City Council had the foresight to take widespread photos before the properties were demolished and these have provided Jim Brown with valuable material. Family historians will be delighted to see streets that have since been completely obliterated, with views of houses, shops or public houses that they knew in their youth or were used by their parents or grandparents. 192 A4 pages. -
Southampton Murder Victims Vol. 1
Original price was: £14.99.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Add to basket Author: Jim Brown Southampton Murder Victims is the result of painstaking research by the author, who had unrivalled access to police and other archive files not normally available to the general public. It has resulted in fascinating accounts of 80 murders committed in Southampton between 1783 and 2009, including some that took place abroad on the high seas and subsequently investigated by Southampton police under the Merchant Shipping Acts. He has also outlined the changes in legislation relating to what was for many years a mandatory death sentence and the alterations to the court systems over the period. Included in the accounts are his recollections of investigations in which he was personally involved as a member of the murder squad, and these give a special insight into the methods employed by the police in the 1950/1960s. Many individual cases show interesting aspects of law and the varied ways in which unfortunate victims were killed, by shooting, bludgeoning, strangling, stabbing and poisoning. The various motives include drunken and domestic rage, jealousy, robbery and sex. The book contains many illustrations, some of them official police photos, showing the scene of the crime and published for the first time. The murder accounts are shown in strict chronological order, allowing the reader to dip into the period of their choice, the earlier cases arousing nostalgia for roads and premises that have long since vanished. 192 pages, 240 x 160 mm, hardback -
Southampton Murder Victims Vol. 2
Original price was: £14.99.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Add to basket This book is a sequel to Southampton Murder Victims, produced in 2010 by DB Publishing and the present book is a joint production with DB Publishing and the Hampshire Constabulary History Society. The former book explained, in some depth, the various amendments to the original mandatory death penalty for murder; the stages of penal servitude that were imposed, until abolished in 1948; an explanation of the former Assize Court system and the establishment of the Crown Courts that replaced them in 1972. Southampton Murder Victims Vol II is is the result of painstaking research by the author, who had unrivalled access to police and other archive files normally unavailable to the general public. It has resulted in fascinating accounts of over 60 murders committed in Southampton between 1873 and 2012. The accounts are arranged in strict chronological order, allowing the reader to dip into the period of their choice, the earlier cases arousing nostalgia for parts of the city that have long since vanished. The book contains many illustrations, some of them official police photos showing the scene of the crime and published for the first time, making Southampton Murder Victims Vol II a must-read for historians and the just plain curious. Jim Brown is a local author and researcher with a passion for Southampton's history. A former detective and deputy coroner's officer with the Southampton City Police, he had lived and worked in the city all his life and in retirement has devoted himself to investigating the city's past. A leading member of Bitterne Local History Society, he has written several books, including The Illustrated History of Southampton's Suburbs, Southampton's Changing Faces and More Southampton Changing Faces. -
Place-Names Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight
Original price was: £20.00.£10.00Current price is: £10.00. Add to basket Author: Alfred Oscroft Place-Names of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, is an impressive tome, written by Alfred Oscroft in the 1920s and 30s, edited by a Grandson, Prof. James Oscroft Wilkes. The book is copiously illustrated with 100 pen-and-ink drawings and water-colours of churches, maps, coins, etc. by the author, supplemented by another 100 engravings from Mudie's Hampshire (1838) and Warner's Hampshire (1795). It has 223 entries in the bibliography, printed in colour on quality paper. The author: Alfred Oscroft lived at 121 Earls Road in Southampton, England and worked for the Ordnance Survey; he died in 1939. 624 pages, 248 x 183 mm, hardback. First published 2015 -
Southampton City Transport Buses
£15.99 Add to basket Author: David J. Hutchings With a wealth of rare and previously unseen images, Southampton City Transport Buses illustrates the development of mainly diesel-powered buses operated by Southampton City Transport and its successors since the early years of the twentieth century until recent times. As well as covering the vehicle types used, the photographs included here attempt to show as much background around the buses as possible to give a fuller portrait of this interesting city and its history. Written by a long-time member of the Southampton & District Transport Heritage Trust and making use of the group’s superb archive, the images presented here give the reader a wonderfully evocative insight into the history of transport in the city. 96 pages. Softback, 231 x 162 mm -
Jesus Chapel
£9.99 Add to basket Author: Dr Cheryl Butler Published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Pear Tree Church, the first to be built in England after the Reformation, this book is richly illustrated in both colour and black & white. The book looks at the period before the chapel was built and why and how it came into being; it looks in depth at the construction of the chapel, its memorials and churchyard and describes how Peartree Green and Itchen Ferry villages have changed and disappeared. 112 pages, A4, softback, Published 2020 -
Southampton’s Old Kingsland and St Mary Street
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Dave Marden Local historian Dave Marden looks back at the old streets of Southampton's Kingsland area that were cleared away in the 1930s and replaced by post-war flats. Virtually nothing survives today from what was once home to generations of a close-knit community striving to subsist in some very poor early and mid-Victorian housing. The author also recalls the past of nearby St Mary Street, once the vibrant hub of the local population but nowadays a mere shadow of its former self. 199 pages. Softback, 234 x 155 mm. First published 2020. -
Southampton’s Chapel Area
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Dave Marden It is half a century since Southampton's Chapel area was swept away. A square half mile of tightly packed terrace houses had evolved on barren marshland and timber ponds, to house the workers needed for the docks and railways from the mid-1800s. Most of Chapel disappeared in the 1960s, when the rush for regeneration saw dozens of streets erased from history and their thousands of residents dispersed to estates on the town boundaries. Virtually nothing of the old district remains, but the memories linger on for those who experienced life there in a close-knit community that grew together for generations. An established author of several books on railways and local history, Dave Marden now writes about the place where he was born and brought up. 176 pages. Softback, 232 x 154 mm. First published 2017. -
Southampton in 50 buildings
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Garth Groombridge By taking a sample of fifty buildings, not all of them always so obvious or that well known, this book sets out to chart the town's thousand-year-plus chronological history. From the medieval era through to its eighteenth-century popularity as a spa, its gradual, but since continuous, expansion as a commercial docks throughout the last 200 years, the dramatic changes to its shoreline and topography, and, by the late twentieth century and into the twenty-first, its transformation into a new, dynamic, bustling city. On the way we discover ancient public houses, historic churches, eccentric monuments, changing fortunes (both commercial and political), dramatic examples of civic and mercantile aspirations, and an eclectic mix of many different, contrasting architectural styles. 96 pages. -
Southampton Airport Through Time
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Peter C. Brown This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Southampton Airport has changed and developed over time. Southampton Airport boasts a long history, with the first aircraft taking off from the original site at Stoneham Farm in 1910. Requisitioned by the War Office in 1917 as an aircraft assembly area, it was given to the US Navy to develop. The current airport was established in 1932, and was the test bed for R. J. Mitchell's prototype Spitfire. The airport was commissioned as HMS Raven in 1939, and subsequently spent most of the war in service with the Royal Navy. Regular air services returned in 1945, and by the early 1950s Southampton was one of the busiest airports outside of London. Despite the nationwide slump in air passenger traffic during the 1970s, huge investment was made by its owners Airports UK Ltd, and a decade later it was purchased by the British Airports Authority. Currently owned by Heathrow Airport Holdings, it is steadily climbing the ranks of the UK's busiest airports. 96 colour pages. Softback, 234 x 166 mm. First published 2019. -
50 Gems of Hampshire
£15.99 Add to basket Author: Peter Kilby Hampshire is one of the most populous counties of England but alongside the major conurbations of Southampton and Portsmouth, and historical centres such as Winchester, it also boasts the quieter spaces of the New Forest and South Downs National Parks; busy commercial centres such as Basingstoke; a proud military, naval and aviation heritage in Aldershot, Gosport and Farnborough; and quiet villages and market towns including the Meon Valley and famous Wickham with which many famous names are associated, such as Jane Austen and Gilbert White. In 50 Gems of Hampshire author Peter Kilby explores the many places and their history that make this part of the country so special, from Basingstoke in the north of the county to the Southampton-Portsmouth conurbation and the Solent and English Channel coastline in the south. Towns and villages in the New Forest are also included, to the Wiltshire border, the picturesque village of Burley, to the Beaulieu River and its spectacular Palace House and the historic shipbuilding village of Buckler's Hard, and many more. 96 pages. Softback, 234 x 166 mm. First published 2021 -
Southampton: The Postcard Collection
£14.99 Add to basket Authors: Peter Wardall, Ben Waring & Rod Andrews The city of Southampton, lying on the south coast in Hampshire, has seen massive changes over the years. Its favoured location on the natural harbour of Southampton Water enabled it to develop as a major port, and it saw particularly rapid growth in Victorian times with the development of the docks and related shipbuilding industries. Significant areas of the city were destroyed in the Second World War and many people lost their lives as it became a target for aerial bombing raids. Post-war rebuilding of Southampton was essential, and although in the process more of the city's historical structures were lost, today it is a vibrant and thriving metropolis. As the home port of many of the world's largest cruise ships, Southampton draws visitors from all over the world. In Southampton: The Postcard Collection the authors have drawn on a remarkable selection of old postcards to give a pictorial record of how much the city, including its surrounding suburbs and the community that lives and work here, have changed over the last century. Although many landmarks have remained the same over the years the photographs show the city and its inhabitants adapting and evolving, with many buildings being replaced and the pattern of life in the city also changing for many. This fascinating collection of postcards will be of interest to those who have lived in Southampton or know it well. 96 colour pages. Softback, 234 x 166 mm. First published 2018 -
1415 The Plot
£11.95 Add to basket Author: Bryan Dunleavy On the eve of Agincourt a plot to overthrow Henry V was exposed in Southampton. The plotters were quickly tried and executed. The leader of the plot was Richard Earl of Cambridge, who was buried in the chapel of St Julien 600 years ago. He was a minor royal at the time but consequent quirks of history allowed two of his grandsons - Edward IV and Richard III - to become kings of England. The author, Bryan Leavy, relates the background to the plot, describes the plotters and their grievances, and narrates the events in Hampshire during the summer of 1415. 186 colour pages. Softback, 228 x 152 mm -
Historic England: Southampton
£14.99 Read more Author: Dave Marden This illustrated history portrays one of England's finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Southampton's past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England's archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts. Historic England: Southampton shows the city as it once was, from its churches, parks, streets and alleyways to its famous old docks. The city, once a popular eighteenth-century spa resort, has grown with the expansion of its commercial docks throughout the last 200 years and has witnessed everything from seamen's strikes to shipwrecks, notably the Titanic and Queen Mary, as well as the other famous ocean liners that have called at the port since the 1840s. The city suffered greatly during the twentieth century when extensive Second World War bombing and subsequent town planning led to a reduction in the number of many fine and interesting buildings. Dramatic changes have taken place and, by the late twentieth century and into the twenty-first century, it has been transformed into a new, dynamic, bustling city. This book will help you discover Southampton's colourful and fascinating history. Complemented by over 80 postcards and photographs from private collections, these reminiscences provide an entertaining read for all who know the city. 96 pages. Softback, 235 x 164 mm. First published 2018. -
A–Z of Southampton
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Martin Brisland The history of a settlement at Southampton and its role as a major port on the south coast goes back to Roman times and beyond. Convenient as a crossing point to Normandy and the rest of France, Southampton grew in importance in the Middle Ages, evidenced today by the remains of the city walls and other surviving medieval buildings. As well as continuing to grow as a port and centre of shipbuilding, Southampton also developed itself as a spa town in the eighteenth century and expanded greatly after the foundation of the docks in the next century. Despite the ravages of the destruction wrought on Southampton through aerial bombardment in the Second World War, the city is a thriving business and commercial centre today where the old sits alongside the new. A-Z of Southampton delves into the history of this Hampshire city. It highlights well-known landmarks and famous residents, and digs beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser-known facts about Southampton and its hidden gems. This fascinating A-Z tour of Southampton's history is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this historical city. 96 pages. Softback, 233 x 166 mm. First published 2019 -
Bloody British History: Southampton
£9.99 Add to basket Author: Penny Legg The people of Southampton have had a lot to put up with over the centuries. If the Danes or French weren't attacking it, pirates from further along the coast were. Treasonous plots were hatched behind its ancient walls and mutiny hit its shipping. This book looks at such bloody events as the Black Death in the city, what happens when you cross a king, the ill-fated Titanic and the Blitz. Yes, the best bits of Southampton's history are surely the bloodiest! FEATURING: murderous pirates wreaking havoc in the port 'ring a ring O' roses' - How the plague brought a town to its knees the ill-fated journey of the titanic german bombs battering the city in the blitz 96 pages. Softback, 234 x 156 mm. First published 2013 -
A Century of Southampton
£9.99 Add to basket Author: Tony Gallaher Events, People and Places over the 20th Century This fascinating selection of photographs illustrates the extraordinary transformation that has taken place in Southampton during the 20th century. The book offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Southampton’s recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. The book provides a striking acgount of the changes that have so altered Southampton’s appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and—white photographs, this book recalls what Southampton has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeheration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century. 121 pages. Softback, 235 x 165 mm. First published 2000 -
Before Holy Rood
£16.99 Add to basket Author: Dave Marden Southampton’s Holy Rood housing estate covers a wide area east of the old town. Built in the late 1950s and early l960s, it replaced a mixture of crumbling Victorian terraces, tenements and courts that at one time formed the town’s most densely populated district. Aflluence and poverty mingled side-by-side until it was all swept away by slum clearances, bombs and modemisation. Local historian Dave Marden looks back on what was there. Dave’s previous titles cover several areas of Southampton, including Chapel, Kingsland and St Mary’s, whose old streets are now just memories of those who witnessed them. 316 pages. Softback, 233 x 155 mm. First published 2025 -
Bloody but Unbowed
£15.00 Add to basket Authors: Richard Henry, Any Russel, Andy Skinner, Jo Smith The forgotten victims of the Southampton Blitz Between 1940 and 1945, Southampton endured sixty-four air raids that reshaped the town forever. In those desperate years, 664 civilians were killed and more than 45,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Seven parish churches were lost, whole neighbourhoods were reduced to rubble, and a once-bustling port became a landscape of ruins and resilience. Bloody but Unbowed traces the experiences of those who endured the Blitz, the lives shattered, the families displaced, and the town that refused to give in. Drawing on contemporary reports, local archives, and hundreds of rarely seen photographs from the City Council's collection, it records each raid in turn, charting the growing toll on the people and the place they called home. This book restores to memory the ordinary men, women, and children whose lives were torn apart by the Blitz. It also follows the town's painstaking recovery, from the first efforts to clear more than a million tons of rubble to the rebuilding that gave post-war Southampton its modern shape. Detailed, moving, and richly illustrated, Bloody but Unbowed is both a memorial and a testament to the endurance of a town that was devastated but unbroken. 142 pages. Softback, 278 x 211 mm. First published 2025 -
Celebrating Southampton
£15.99 Add to basket Author: Martin Brisland Building on the author's previous titles Secret Southampton and A-Z of Southampton, Celebrating Southampton chronicles the proud heritage of Southampton, its important moments and what draws so many to this dynamic city today. Illustrated throughout, this fascinating book offers a marvellous and refreshingly positive insight into Southampton's rich heritage, its special events and important moments. This book will be a valuable contribution to the history of the city and provide a source of many memories to those who have known it well over the years. 96 pages. Softback, 234 x 164 mm. First published 2022 -
From Rural to Residential
£4.99 Add to basket Author: Joa Simmond A history of the development of Bishopstoke from the coming of the railway to Nine Elms in the Victorian era. 44 pages. Softback, 297 x 210 mm. First published 2003 -
Gateway Fire Engines
£5.99 Add to basket Author: Alan House The book places on record the range of appliances and vehicles that were used, from the middle of the 18th century until April 1974, to protect the citizens of Southampton against the ravages of fire and other emergencies. 52 pages of text plus 100 half page photographs. Softback, 294 x 210 mm. First published 1998 -
Gateway Firefighters
£6.00 Add to basket Author: Alan House A history of the Southampton Fire Brigade from the earliest times. It traces the development of the organisation of the Force, the second World War; the fire stations, engines and fireboats, as well as communication system, lists notable incidents, uniforms, commendations and awards, as well as much more. 204 pages. Softback, 294 x 210 mm. First published 1996 -
Growing Up in Wartime Southampton
£12.99 Add to basket Author: James Marsh This is a story spanning some of the most turbulent decades in recent world history. ]ames Marsh was born during the first year of the Second World War and many of his infant years were spent in air-raid shelters outside his home. Bombs rained down from the German Luftwaffe as they tried to destroy the city of Southampton, which has now been ]ames’ home for more than sixty years. The gritty determination, community spirit and, above all, the humour, with which the local community faced the difficulties of war, have stayed with ]ames throughout his life. Moving on to describe the harsh lessons learned in 1940s and ’50s schooling and subsequently describing his teenage years in the merchant navy, this book explores how growing up in the post-war years was both a challenge and a lot of fun. 156 pages. Softback, 234 x 156 mm. First published 2011 -
Lord Radstock of Mayfield Park
£7.00 Add to basket Author: David Fountain Thousands of Southampton people enjoy the natural beauty of Mayfield Park, which sits between Woolston, Sholing and Weston. But how many know about its long-gone stately home and the remarkable man who once lived there? "Lord Radstock of Mayfield" tells the true story of Granville Waldegrave. Although wealthy and talented, he wasn't enchanted by British high society. Instead, he became a Christian missionary and headed to Russia where he reached out to the aristocracy and became part of the "Great Russian Awakening". 109 pages. Softback, 210 x 148 mm. First published 1984 -
More Memories of Southampton
£5.00 Add to basket Author: True North Books Ltd A book containing a wealth of photographs covering Southampton from the 1930s on. It describes the changes in Southampton with reference to a number of firms in the area. 104 pages. Hardback, 278 x 222 mm. First published 2002 -
Port of Southampton
£12.99 Add to basket Author: Campbell McCutcheon Sheltered by the Isle of Wight, Southampton has for centuries been a trading port. It was in l838 that expansion of the port from a small series of Wharfs began in earnest. Still under development today, the Port of Southampton grew to be the biggest passenger port in the UK. Today, it is still busy and is the biggest cruise-ship terminal in the UK with over 250 visits per year. Freight has played an important part in the growth of the port too and cargoes as varied as bananas and frozen beef have passed through. Ships called from all corners of the world. Today, the cargoes are cars and containers, with oil from Fawley refinery. This collection of photographs will hopefully bring back memories of Southampton’s port to those who have sailed through or worked there. Many of the images are published here for the first time and they cover all aspects of the docks from shipbuilding to disasters and the ferries, cargo and passenger ships that have used the port since the dawn of photography. 160 pages. Softback, 234 x 165 mm. First published 2005 -
Southampton’s Lost Streets
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Dave Marden Southampton's Lost Streets — St Mary's and Golden Grove looks back to a time when the town’s old Victorian streets, with their tightly packed terraces, housed much of the workforce who powered the docks, shipping, railways and local industries. Many of those streets no longer exist, having been cleared away almost 60 years ago, while some remain in name only and are entirely unrecognisable from how they were in times gone by. Through a mixture of images, maps, and details of long-standing residents, it is once again possible to have an insight to the past and a view of how things were at a time now almost forgotten. ln the author's previous book, Southampton's Chapel Area ~ A Hundred Years of the Past, he retraced the streets of his youth and now extends those memories further to the long-disappeared neighbourhoods of St Mary’s and Golden Grove. 144 pages. Softback, 233 x 155 mm. First published 2019 -
Tide Mills of Southern England
£15.99 Add to basket Author: Alex Vincent A tide mill or tidal mill is worked by harnessing the ebb and tlow ot the sea. They were situated on tidal river estuaries, away trom the waves but near to the sea, and comprised ot a mill, outbuildings, a dyke, dam or causeway and millpond beyond. Tide mills date trom Saxon times, or even the Roman period. Most are now gone, but some can still be traced today as ruins, scanty remains and earthworks. Some are in use as homes, while in some cases only the millpond survives, otten in use as a nature reserve, marina or yacht basin. lt is said that Chichester Harbour has the largest concentration ot tide mills in the country and at Eling, near Southampton, in Hampshire, a tide mill survives in working order to produce Flour today. The old Flood Mill at Depttord was rebuilt as a steam Flour mill, where only the Mumlord's Mill still stands. That at Faversham became Twymans Mill, which still stands today and is now a block of Flats. ln Tide Mills of Southern England author Alex Vincent surveys the lost tide mills and their remains in the southern counties ot Hampshire, the Isle ot Wight, Sussex and Kent, including parts at London that were originally Kent such as Greenwich and Depttord. This tascinating picture at an important but otten torgotten part ot the industrial heritage ot southern England will be at interest to all those who live in this corner ot the country or have known it well over the years, as well as those interested in the uses ot renewable technology in centuries past. 95 pages. Softback, 234 x 165 mm. First published 2024 -
A Walk Around the City Parks
£14.00 Add to basket Author: Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes From the Authors of A Walk Up the Avenue and A Walk Around the Common Southampton's Central Parks have Grade II* listed status as exceptional examples of early municipal parks but also are thought to be unique in that they replicate the pattern of the walled town's medieval fields. Thls book explores the history of these parks in the heart of the modern city but also looks at some more recently developed green spaces in easy walking distance of the centre. 122 pages. Softback, 210 x 150 mm. First published 2024 -
A Walk Around the Common
£16.00 Add to basket Author: Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes Southampton's Jewel The history of Southampton starts on the Common, from Court Leet, through the World Wars and right up to the present day as a site of Special Scientific Interest. The book describes its features, past and present; accompanied by lavish illustrations. Ring bound for ease of carrying while walking. 90 pages. Softback, 210 x 150 mm. First published 2022 -
A Walk Through Southampton
£15.99 Add to basket Author: Andy Skinner & Richard Henry ln 1801 the antiquarian and astronomer Sir Henry Engletield wrote a beautifully illustrated walking tour leading readers through the streets of Southampton. He offered insights into the town's fascinating historical past, including some fanciful stories about the buildings he was exploring. Since then, much of the fabric ot the town has changed with many ot the elements he highlighted having been removed through the slum clearances of the twentieth century and bombing during the Second World War. In this book, we retrace Sir Henry's footsteps and examine key sites, such as the Bargate, Watergate, the town walls, Church ot All Saints, Holy Rood Church, the medieval friary and sugar house, and the medieval vaults, as well as other curiosities he mentions, such as a cannon ot Henry Vlll and the arms granted by Elizabeth I. Featuring a vivid selection of fascinating illustrations and 3D images and links to the city's museum collections, here the Southampton of the past is brought to life. Join us on a walking tour through the historic town and find out how the modern city of Southampton has changed over the past 200 years. 95 pages. Softback, 233 x 165 mm. First published 2026 -
A Walk Up The Avenue
£12.00 Add to basket Author: Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes Southampton's Ornament This is a guide book to take you on a wondrous journey through the past to the present along Southampton's most famous road, the Avenue. Fascinating points of interest are discussed in detail accompanied by lavish illustrations. Ring bound for ease of carrying while walking. 89 pages. Softback, 210 x 150 mm. First published 2021 -
Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths in Southampton
£12.99 Add to basket Author: John J. Eddleston The criminal cases vividly described by John Eddleston in this gripping book take the reader on a journey into the dark secret side of Southampton's past. The city has been the setting for a series of horrific, bloody, sometimes bizarre incidents. There is the story of Augustus John Penny who shot his mother to death while she was lying in her bed after discovering that she had come into money and refused to pass any on to him. There is James Camb who was convicted of murder even though the body of his victim, an actress, was never found. And there is the case of Michael George Tatum, the only British killer of the twentieth century to use an African club as his chosen weapon of murder. But perhaps the most intriguing case is the Southampton garage murder of Vivian Messiter in October 1928. Difficulties in the case caused an eighteen-month delay before the killer, William Henry Podmore, finally paid the price for that brutal crime on the gallows. John Eddleston's selection of cases from Southampton's criminal history will be compelling reading for anyone who is interested in the sinister side of human nature. 150 pages. Softback, 233 x 156 mm. First published 2009 -
Southampton’s Lost Pubs
£14.99 Add to basket Authors: Dave Goddard & Jim Brown The British pub is an institution and for generations a social refuge for many of its citizens. However, the ravages of war and the onslaught of developers have resulted in the demise of numerous hostelries. Changing social conditions, cheaper alcohol that can be obtained elsewhere and restrictive legislation have all combined to compel many former mere public houses to become virtual restaurants. Others could not cope with the financial pressures and were forced to close their doors. 'Pub grub' is now renowned for its excellence and those pubs that have remained can still do well. The authors have endeavoured to recall many of Southampton's pubs that have now vanished so as to evoke good memories for those who frequented them. A vast collection of old photos owned by the late Tony Gallaher have been used to illustrate the book, coupled with modern photos taken, as faithfully as possible, of the site as it is today. It is hoped that readers will enjoy nostalgic recollections of times spent with family and friends in a congenial atmosphere. 172 pages. Softback, 234 x 157 mm. First published 2014 -
The Port of Southampton
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Ian Collard An Act of Parliament passed in 1836 authorised the Southampton Dock Company to build a dock at Southampton. The foundation stone for the new docks was laid on 12 October 1838. The Eastern Docks were developed in the 1830s and the Inner and Outer Docks were then constructed. The Outer Dock was opened in 1842 and the Inner Dock in 1851, being completed eight years later. As trade and business increased the old facilities proved inadequate and a new dock named Empress Dock was opened by Queen Victoria in 1890. Taken over by the London & South Western Railway Company, the port facilities were nationalised, and then later privatised. The Port of Southampton is now the United Kingdom's premier passenger port and is the second largest container facility, handling more than 1.5 million containers each year. In this book, Ian Collard uses a wonderful collection of photographs to tell the story of one of the world's most famous ports. 96 pages. Softback, 234 x 165 mm. First published 2019 -
The Story of Southampton
£16.99 Add to basket Author: Peter Neal This richly illustrated history explores every aspect of life in Southampton. The Story of Southampton is a long overdue and engaging general history of the city, from the earliest times to the present day, taking into account its unique architectural development and heritage. It not only looks at the local history, but also how those events had a wider significance – especially in relation to the sea and communications. Peter Neal has an eye for a telling anecdote, and this, together with his lively tone and authoritative research, will make the book appealing to anyone who is seeking to find out more about this fascinating city. 234 pages. Softback, 234 x 157 mm. First published 2014. -
Voices of Southampton
£12.99 Add to basket Author: Penny Legg This collection of personal memories, from the people who have lived and worked in Southampton over the past seventy years, offers a fascinating insight into experiences shared by so many across the country. Penny Legg has interviewed a wide spectrum of local people to record their recollections of local schools, shops, friends and neighbours, jobs, transport, sport and entertainment, and living through war. The memories and background history highlight a time of immense change in working and social life. In particular, the spirit of Southampton's residents comes through in these anecdotes, which have often been recounted, but never before recorded. Complemented by over 80 postcards and photographs from private collections, these reminiscences provide an entertaining read for all who know the city. 128 pages. Softback, 235 x 164 mm. First published 2011. -
Thorny’s
£9.50 Add to basket Edited by: Krista Woodley, Padmini Broomfield and Sheila Jemima When the Oral History Unit learned that the Vosper Thornycroft Woolston shipyard was going to close down it brought into focus the need to document and record a 'people's history' of Thorny's for future generations and also for the benefit and enjoyment of people today. For almost a century, Thorny's has had a major impact on the local community. As one interviewee put it, "Thornycroft's was Woolston". The workers have made an enormous and impressive contribution to the local and national shipbuilding industry. The book contains transcriptions of oral recordings of many of the people who worked there, alongside photographs taken over many years. 192 pages. 303mm x 217mm. First published in 2005. Includes a CD of extracts form the oral recordings.. -
Southampton Memories People and Places
£14.99 Add to basket Author: Peter Wardall, Rod Andrews and Ben Waring The authors have delved into their remarkable collection of photographs from their Facebook account of the same name to present images of the City since the nineteenth century. 96 pages.
SELECTED 2ND HAND
We normally have multiple copies of these books and will choose the best condition copy to send to you
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Memories of Bitterne
£5.00 Add to basket Author: Irene Pilson Irene Pilson was born in Bitterne and lived there for more than fifty years before moving to Curdridge in 1961. An early member of Bitterne Local History Society she is anxious that the hard work and endeavours of the old villagers shall not be forgotten when a bull-dozed Bitterne begins to grow again. 272 pages. Hardback, 170 x 250 mm. Published 1984 -
More Memories of Bitterne
£10.00 Add to basket Editor: Irene Pilson This second book by Irene Pilson recounts the recollections of many who were reminded by the stories in Memories of Bitterne, published in 1984. There are also many historical facts which may be of news to you. Also hitherto unpublished accounts of stirring events when Bitterne suffered the effects of Hitler's heavy bombing raids. Bitterne folk helped to make history before and during the two world wars and were involved in some events that made national headlines, including the Invergordon Mutiny and the R101 disaster which are mentioned here. Even if you are not a Bitternite there is much in this book that may well interest and entertain you. Open it anywhere and you will find old memories of the past rekindled and pictures that will bring you right up-to-date with the new Bitterne which is still a village at heart and very special to all who live there. 432 pages. Hardback, 165 x 230 mm, Published 1988 -
Saints…The Glory Games
£3.00 Add to basket Author: Chris Newman A book about the various match experiences of one fan over a 45 year period. The matches are themed and the book tells of the teams and players involved. 210 pages. Hardback 300 x 210 mm. First published 2005 -
Southampton’s Changing Faces
£5.00 Add to basket Author: Jim Brown The book shows how building developments, some dramatic, have transformed areas of the city over the years. Local historian Jim Brown has had access to local collections containing a number of unpublished views and his modern photos taken from, as nearly as possible, the same position as the older pictures, sometimes reveal startling changes. Southampton suffered widespread damage during World War Two, when Hitler's Blitzkrieg was unleashed on the town's docks and infrastructure, and the subsequent post-war reconstruction altered many areas beyond recognition. Further changes came in the 1950s when a new ring road was constructed around the city centre to cope with ever-increasing traffic demands, with the resultant demolition of many properties. More changes occurred in the 1970s when the massive Itchen Bridge was built to provide an improved connection east of the city, and this involved the sweeping away of a number of buildings to provide the two approaches to the new bridge. The Bitterne area of the town was also transformed in the 1980s when a new bypass tore through the former Bitterne Village. Fortunately some individuals had the foresight to take photos before properties were demolished, and these have provided Jim Brown with invaluable material. The book contains over 300 illustrations and is sure to appeal to all those who remember how Southampton has changed over the years, as well as giving younger readers a fascinating insight into the city's past. 159 pages. Hardback 266 x 200 mm. First published 2005 -
The Illustrated History of Southampton Suburbs
£5.00 Read more Author: Jim Brown A single-volume survey of the history of the development of the residential areas of the city. Local historian Jim Brown chronicles the growth of the suburbs from the earliest times to the present day and he illuminates the lives of people who lived in them. His fascinating book will appeal to anyone with an interest in the story of Southampton. The narrative is illustrated with more than 200 photographs, drawings and maps. Jim Brown shows how the countryside, farms and villages developed into the urban streets, residential areas, shopping districts and industrial estates that are so familiar today. In the course of the last 150 years, the outskirts of the city have been transformed, and they have expanded, in a way that would astonish Southampton residents of just a few generations ago. The districts featured include Bassett, Bevois Town, Bitterne, Bitterne Manor, Bitterne Park, Docks, Harefield, Highfield, Maybush, Merry Oak, Milbrook, Northam, Peartree, Polygon, Portswood, Redbridge, Shirley, Shirley Warren, Sholing, St Denys, Swaythling, Thornhill, Weston and Woolston. In his fully illustrated account of each suburb, Jim Brown offers a concise history as well as local anecdotes and folklore. He also recalls remarkable episodes and notable individuals who played their part in the story. His survey will be essential reading and reference for Southampton residents past and present, who take an interest in their neighbourhood and in the complex, surprising history of the city itself. 157 pages. Hardback 266 x 200 mm. First published 2004 -
A History of Southampton in Picture Postcards
Original price was: £6.50.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Read more Author: Clive Brooks and Peter Boyd-Smith This book represents a photographic history of Southampton from around the time of the first great age of expansion in 1860 to that poignant historical watershed, the final journey of the floating bridge between Crosshouse and Woolston in 1977. With over 250 illustrations, black and white photographs and postcards including 32 reproduced in full colour, this is the most complete, illustrated history of Southampton and the surrounding area ever published. Clear and concise captions point out the interesting features in every photograph and by doing so tell the history of the town through the eyes and lenses of a large number of both amateur and professional photographers. In addition to the work of the postcard publishers, the illustrations include contemporary advertisements, these provide a fascinating insight into the lives of our forbears and create an authentic taste of life as it used to be. 88 pages. Hardback 218 x 280 mm. First published 1989 -
A Maritime History of Southampton in Picture Postcards
Original price was: £9.50.£5.00Current price is: £5.00. Add to basket Author: Alan Leonard and Rodney Baker For this book, the authors have selected and annotated a wide range of postcards (some of them reproduced in their original colours), to illustrate many aspects of Southampton shipping and port activities from Victorian times to the changing scene of the Fifties, including the growth of the Docks, both "Old" and "New", and the ships using them, especially the great ocean liners in their heyday between the wars. These "floating palaces", with their elaborately ornate interiors, are well represented by the evocative postcards issued over nearly forty years from 1924 by C.R. and O.W. Hoffmann, whose shop bore the proud address "No. 1, The Docks, Southampton." They were preceded by the productions of various other lesser-known publishers, many of whose once topical photographic cards now have documentary as well as scarcity value. Moreover, the extensive output, dating from 1901, of the doyen of Southampton postcard publishers, the splendidly named Francis Godolphin Osborne Stuart, including many devoted to shipping subjects as well as the more numerous topographical cards are now greatly esteemed by collectors. Drawn from these and other sources, the cards illustrated in this album - many of them not previously reproduced in book form - exemplify many diverse topics. As well as the main outlines of port history, they offer nostalgic reminders of paddle steamer excursions; the launching of the first warships from Thornycroft's yard at Woolston; the role of Southampton as a military port and trooping centre; and shipwrecks and disasters, including stories of heroism, a remarkable salvage and repair job and a collision during an unseasonable April blizzard. 96 pages. Hardback 222 x 278 mm. First published 1989 -
Dream Palaces
£3.00 Add to basket Authors: Bill White, Sheila Jemima & Donald Hyslop Going to the Pictures in Southampton Visits to the cinema have always featured prominently in the memories of so many local people whose life stories have been recorded for Southampton City Council's oral history unit. The idea for the book came about during the 1991 Southampton Film Festival when City Heritage Services organised a bus tour visiting the sites of the various Southampton cinemas. Our guide was local historian Bill White and during the event it became evident that over the years he had amassed a wide knowledge of the subject from the dates of openings and closing through to anecdotes of staff and cinema cats! The tour was repeated the following year, this time augmented by tape recordings from the oral history archive of Cinemagoers experiences played over the bus audio system. From these beginnings then came the idea to produce a book combining Bill's knowledge and the first hand accounts of those who worked in or visited Southampton cinemas. 98 pages. Softback 273 x 219 mm. First published 1996 -
Stories of Southampton Streets
£5.00 Add to basket Author: A.G,K. Leonard Do you know the origins of Southampton street names? Behind them lie the stories of many people now forgotten or barely remembered. In this book A. G. K. Leonard presents the results of his research into their Southampton connections and significance, illustrating many little-known aspects of local history and biography. 88 pages. Softback 241 x 180 mm. First published 1984 -
More Stories of Southampton Streets
£8.00 Add to basket Author: A.G,K. Leonard Who were the men who gave their names to Ogle Road, Winn Road, Newcombe Road, Oakley Road . . . and lots more? Behind these and dozens of other street names lie the stories of many people now forgotten but worth recalling. In this book A.G.K. Leonard offers the results of his further researches into their Southampton connections and significance, highlighting many little-known aspects of local history and biography. 166 pages. Softback 241 x 180 mm. First published 1989 -
Focus on Woolston
£9.50 Read more Author: Audrey Cleverley The Last 80 Years This is not an attempt at a history of Woolston; it is simply a collection of pictures reproduced purely for the pleasure of remembering the past. It is the author's view that some of the pleasure derived from a unique collection of photographs, originally for exhibitions, should be shared with the people of Woolston, many of whom have so kindly contributed. 64 pages. Softback A4. First published 1981 -
Henry Brain: A Victorian & Edwardian Photographer
£10.00 Add to basket Author: Jim Brown A collection of photographs, the majority undated but appearing to be from 1890-1910, including views of Southampton, Hampshire and as far afield as Cape Town. The photographs had been contained in two albums salvaged from the family home in Stuert Road, Bitterne Manor, after a landmine destroyed the house in 1941. 60 pages. Softback A4. First published 2000 -
Memories of Southampton
£3.00 Add to basket Sponsor: Southampton City College A collection of photographs from a time not-so-long-ago. It is not a history book, rather a nostalgic look at life concentrating on that most eventful period in our recent past centred around the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Each picture is brought to life with generous, well researched captions that will rekindle thoughts of how things were in the Southampton of our childhood, the Southampton of our parents, and perhaps even our grandparents. Inside this book you will find images of everyday life, including people at work, at play, on the move and in the city centre. Every facet of Southampton nostalgia finds a place. Above all these images are intended to bring back memories of how things were in a time that seems like only yesterday... 104 pages. Hardback 305 x 215 mm. First published 1999 -
Southampton ~ On Reflection
£5.00 Add to basket Author: Eric Wyeth Gadd The author has gathered together photographs from many sources that illustrate the local history of the ordinary people of Southampton. 80 pages. Softback 272 x 214 mm. First published 1989 -
Bitterne Before The By-Pass
£3.00 Read more Author: BLHS Photographs and information about shops, houses, people and the roads in Bitterne, before the Bypass was built in 1982. Views of properties now demolished and roads now changed beyond all recognition make this a nostalgic trip for all former residents of the period. The many reproductions of shop advertisements and receipts will also arouse many recollections of a time when shopping was totally different from that in modern supermarkets. 100 A4 pages. First published 1991.
FICTION
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Riduna
£8.99 Add to basket Author: Diana Jackson "Riduna speaks volumes about the power of love and loss and is beautifully written with a fluidity that speaks to your soul. Diana Jackson's ability to portray the everyday ordinary yet life-changing events of those in a community is amazing; you get a true feel of what it must have been like living in Riduna during that era. Fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will fall in love with Riduna" Historical Novel Society Review August 2010 Why Riduna? Riduna is the Latin name for the unique and picturesque island of Alderney, sister island to Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK, known in this novel as Sarnia. Riduna is a character in its own right, since for Harriet, born on Riduna in 1866, and many others in the community, it is all they have known and wanted to know and yet for Edward, his head is full of dreams of faraway places and adventure. As their destiny is challenged, will their devotion remain constant? Have you ever felt that your purpose of life is threatened? Have you ever loved someone so much that you had to let them walk away? Have you experienced displacement, daunted by moving to somewhere unfamiliar and yet deep within your heart remains the very place you have left behind, a place you once dared to call home? A Twitter follower born on Alderney but now living in Canada once tweeted: 'You can take the girt out of the Island but you can't take the Island out of the girl'. 325 pages, Softback 198 x 138 mm, First published 2009 -
Ancasta: guide me swiftly home
£8.99 Add to basket Author: Diana Jackson "In Ancasta, against the background of the new 20th century, we are re-introduced to the progress of life for the next generation from Riduna, Diana Jackson's first novel, of the growing Newton family, now living at Woolston, near Southampton, on the south coast of England. The author succeeds in jolting the reader's emotions to give a clear understanding of how things were for so many 'ordinary' people in those dark days of wartime. No families were spared the loss or sacrifice of a loved one, but life had to go on." Colin van Geffen Artist & Local Historian (specialising in the history of aviation in the Southampton area) Why Ancasta? The River Itchen, important in Roman times when Southampton was already a strategic port, was blessed by the Goddess Ancasta to whom the Romans prayed for the swift and safe return of their vessels. Will each member of the family return safely from the war which takes Harriet's sons as far away as Turkey and India? Will the roles of women, especially Harriet and her headstrong daughter Sarah, empowered by the daunting responsibilities bestowed on them with their loved-ones so far away change their lives forever? Will the island of Riduna, so deep in Harriet's soul continue to cast its magic over Sarah too7 Ancasta follows the story of Harriet's family from 1910 to 1920 as it weaves tightly through this period in Woolston's history with the birth of Supermarine. early flying boat production and the Schneider Trophy, though the excitement of this new age of flight is marred by the destruction of the Great War. 350 pages, Softback 198 x 138 mm, First published 2012
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