.The half mile or so from the Barrack Block to the Cowherds is infused with history; I'm talking about the Avenue in Southampton of course, and I intend to take you on that short tour in these blogs.
We start at the former site of the Ordnance Survey Offices. The buildings were originally constructed as a cavalry barrack block when we were busily being at war with France. When that war finished the block was converted into an asylum for children of soldiers killed in action. Just as they were running out of children, the Ordnance Survey Offices in the Tower of London fortuitously caught fire and so they moved to the empty building in Southampton. This is what the Ordnance Survey looked like at the beginning of the twentieth century.
We start at the former site of the Ordnance Survey Offices. The buildings were originally constructed as a cavalry barrack block when we were busily being at war with France. When that war finished the block was converted into an asylum for children of soldiers killed in action. Just as they were running out of children, the Ordnance Survey Offices in the Tower of London fortuitously caught fire and so they moved to the empty building in Southampton. This is what the Ordnance Survey looked like at the beginning of the twentieth century.
As with many parts of Southampton, the buildings suffered a fair amount of damage during the second world war, and the Ordnance Survey moved out completely in 1969. The remaining buildings are offices and the Courts of Justice are now situated alongside.
There is a trig point and plaque to remind us of what was there before.
As we walk from the Barrack Block we have a view of six lanes of Avenue traffic, but in the centre a little haven of grass and trees. This area is known as Asylum Green, and is beautified with a stone monument known as the Ransom Fountain.
As we walk from the Barrack Block we have a view of six lanes of Avenue traffic, but in the centre a little haven of grass and trees. This area is known as Asylum Green, and is beautified with a stone monument known as the Ransom Fountain.
This fountain was the gift of Councillor John Ransom, and was inaugurated in 1865; it was to replace the Padwell Cross Pond - a watering place for horses, cattle, and humans presumably, as it was filled in following a cholera outbreak in 1849. The fountain was moved to its present site when the Avenue was expanded in 1966. It looks a little sad now, but the panels can still be seen and they represent the four seasons. The inauguration looks like a very formal affair.
As we continue our walk we can gain a sense of how well to do this part of Southampton was in the late nineteenth century. On the corner of Rockstone Place there is an imposing building known as the Director General's House.
The English Heritage blue plaque tells us that Sir Henry James, Director General of the Ordnance Survey from 1854 to 1875, lived in this house. The Ordnance Survey was a military organisation, and he ran it in a very dictatorial manner, taking the credit for processes invented by his subordinates. He certainly doesn't look like a man to be trifled with.
We are now going to take a small detour along Rockstone Place. On our left we see the oasis of calm known as Little Mongers Park, and on the right we see some of the most attractive buildings in Southampton. The buildings, including the Director General's House, were designed and built by Samuel Toomer, architect and property developer. He and his father were largely responsible for the way this area still looks today. The small slice of land next to the magistrates court was not built on - possibly because the site was too small - and in 1879 it was given to the people of Southampton by the Toomer sisters, to be kept as an open space forever.
This lasted just as long as was convenient for the Southampton corporation, and air raid shelters were constructed on it for use by the Ordnance Survey workers during the second world war. After the war did it revert to its former use? That's a rhetorical question; of course it didn't, it became a municipal car park, and remained so for many years until one day a man named Lubor Valecky decided to do something about it.
There are two organisations in Southampton dedicated to retaining our heritage and maintain our parks - they are The City of Southampton Society and Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society (SCAPPS). Both of these groups became involved in the fight for Little Mongers when SCAPPS member Lubor received an anonymous letter in 1981. Quite why the letter was anonymous remains a mystery, but it alleged that the car park should be a public open space. Although generally inclined to dismiss anonymous letters, the two societies looked into the matter and found that it was totally correct. The matter was raised at Court Leet by the City of Southampton Society. It turned out that the City Council were well aware that it shouldn't have been a car park. There then followed a delay of four years and quite a few reminders before SCAPPS put the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman. Their complaint was rejected because the Ombudsman said the council hadn't had enough time to put it right! Hmmm, the war ended in 1945, so that means that they'd had forty years to sort it out. Still, best to give them the benefit of the doubt. The income of £30,000 per year most likely had nothing to do with it. They were probably very busy.
Four more years passed; in March 1988 SCAPPS asked the council when they were going to restore the park and were told 1990. This seemed something like - this year, next year, sometime, never - so they contacted the Ombudsman again. The inspector came from London to look into the situation, for six months. At last, in January 1989 SCAPPS' complaint was upheld. The council only held out for another fifteen months before they demolished the car park. The garden was finally inaugurated in 1993, but the council didn't have enough money for a sculpture or a plaque. SCAPPS jumped in and offered them £25 to help them out with their difficulties. So let's have a look at this little gem.
This lasted just as long as was convenient for the Southampton corporation, and air raid shelters were constructed on it for use by the Ordnance Survey workers during the second world war. After the war did it revert to its former use? That's a rhetorical question; of course it didn't, it became a municipal car park, and remained so for many years until one day a man named Lubor Valecky decided to do something about it.
There are two organisations in Southampton dedicated to retaining our heritage and maintain our parks - they are The City of Southampton Society and Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society (SCAPPS). Both of these groups became involved in the fight for Little Mongers when SCAPPS member Lubor received an anonymous letter in 1981. Quite why the letter was anonymous remains a mystery, but it alleged that the car park should be a public open space. Although generally inclined to dismiss anonymous letters, the two societies looked into the matter and found that it was totally correct. The matter was raised at Court Leet by the City of Southampton Society. It turned out that the City Council were well aware that it shouldn't have been a car park. There then followed a delay of four years and quite a few reminders before SCAPPS put the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman. Their complaint was rejected because the Ombudsman said the council hadn't had enough time to put it right! Hmmm, the war ended in 1945, so that means that they'd had forty years to sort it out. Still, best to give them the benefit of the doubt. The income of £30,000 per year most likely had nothing to do with it. They were probably very busy.
Four more years passed; in March 1988 SCAPPS asked the council when they were going to restore the park and were told 1990. This seemed something like - this year, next year, sometime, never - so they contacted the Ombudsman again. The inspector came from London to look into the situation, for six months. At last, in January 1989 SCAPPS' complaint was upheld. The council only held out for another fifteen months before they demolished the car park. The garden was finally inaugurated in 1993, but the council didn't have enough money for a sculpture or a plaque. SCAPPS jumped in and offered them £25 to help them out with their difficulties. So let's have a look at this little gem.
There are two plaques in the park, but not immediately visible.
I don't know why it's called Little Mongers, but it's a good name. This story shows how important it is to have groups like City of Southampton and SCAPPS. Lubor Velecky was part of SCAPPS for over twenty five years and helped to hold the council to account over many issues.
Let us retrace our steps to the Avenue, admiring the buildings that are now on our left. We can also glance at the Magistrates Court which for many years I was under the impression was a swimming pool. We will then continue our tour in A Walk up the Avenue part two (coming soon).
Let us retrace our steps to the Avenue, admiring the buildings that are now on our left. We can also glance at the Magistrates Court which for many years I was under the impression was a swimming pool. We will then continue our tour in A Walk up the Avenue part two (coming soon).