Welcome to our site The Society The City of Southampton Society is a civic society, independent and has no political affiliations. We are a registered charity and membership is open to all.   A visit to Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre on the Common is always a pleasant experience and we are fortunate to have the largest number of parks outside of London. The Common The Cenotaph by  Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens pre dates the cenotaph in London [image courtesy Will Temple] The Yew Avenue at Southampton Old Cemetery [image courtesy keepbritaintidy.com]   Our heritage We developed as a port and trading community from Saxon and Roman settlements and later became a centre for migrants of many races and nationalities. The town had a French quarter with its own French church. In the 20th century many migrants arrived from the Indian sub continent and the city is very much an integrated neighbourhood of many races living in harmony. s.s. Shieldhall is a working steamship in preservation. [below] Capetown Castle of the Union Castle line which regularly voyaged to and from the Cape from Southampton.                    Titanic Book of Remembrance recording the crew from Southampton lost in the tragedy on 15th April 1912 was presented to the city council by CoSS. The book is housed on a special glass topped plinth outside the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre. [Image courtesy Arthur Jeffery]                                                      Copyright City of Southampton Society 2011                          please carry on browsing below      The site is hosted by Pickaweb          Civic pride Our president is the mayor and the Society takes part in many civic events such as Mayor Choosing Day, Court Leet [an ancient court held annually].                         Editor Jacky Barnes contact We are rather proud of our newsletter REVIEW [this is a sample copy]. A few copies are available to non members at £1 plus 50p postage [UK] please contact our secretary Sue Sefton contact   Please browse our site there is more information on our planning and environmental sub committee, details of forthcoming programme of talks and events.                              please carry on browsing below Members enjoying an outdoor visit with a guided tour of Southampton docks [June 2010]. We used one of the Guy Arab buses in preservation. [image courtesy Will Temple]

Britain's premier cruise port                                                                  Queen Mary 2  Queen Victoria  Several international cruise ship organisations are based in Southampton creating much appreciated employment. The city particularly welcomes visiting cruise ships and whether it is visiting the town walls, our fine Art Gallery or Solent Sky the aviation museum or our fine city centre parks there is much to explore.

Southampton was the home of many famous liners, the Titanic, Queen Mary, Canberra and in the 19th/20th Century a variety of companies based their fleets in the port. These included White Star, Cunard, Union Castle, P & O, Orient, Royal Mail. Some former dock areas now house luxury flats and marinas and the ever busy container port. Trades and ships have changed but the port operator ABP has been at the forefront of attracting new business to the port.

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Copyright 2011. The editor of the REVIEW welcomes contributions for publication especially on the subject of Southampton. This website will be updated from time to time and we hope that you will re-visit it regularly.  New members are most welcome indeed it is essential for organisations such as this charity to introduce a wider age range of membership and we would welcome students, families and businessmen with an interest in the past and future of the town. Editor Jacky Barnes contact  Secretary Sue Sefton  contact  Webmaster contact

A touch of nostalgia

 Below we feature a little nostalgia [left to right] King George III features in Roman dress on the Bargate, Southampton once boasted a speedway track, greyhound racing and a ballroom courtesy of local entrepreneur Charlie Knott, the Norris Castle Red Funnel car ferry with her bow ramp to facilitate drive on /off facilities, the mulberry tree at the French Garden [Town Quay Park] commemorates the settlement of Huguenots, the Central Hall has changed religious tenants but still survives today, Jack Hargreaves in Out of Town [Southern Television] took us fishing on river banks and at sea, ploughing with shire horses and demonstrated a host of country crafts and lastly the Royal Pier as named by Princess Victoria before the ghastly invention of the title Royal Thai Pier.