Presenter: Gordon Adams
The presentation focussed through many lithographs together with photographs taken by the presenter himself, both on the development of Southampton as a port from the mid 1800’s up to the early 1970s, and how the supporting railways grew as a result.
Subjects covered included the arrival of the first railway from London built by the London and Southampton company, followed by the westward extension by the Dorchester and Southampton railway. The unsuccessful attempt by the Great Western Railway to extent the line from Winchester to terminate in their own terminus station was also discussed and included maps of the projected route through the then town into the area occupied by today’s docks.
The development of the current Southampton Central station from LSWR to BR days was detailed and was complimented by slides covering the smaller stations at St Denys and Swaythling to the north, Millbrook and Redbridge to the west, and Bitterne, Woolston and Netley to the east. Views of the traffic to and from the docks were presented showing both the early freight facilities and those supporting the passenger trans-Atlantic shipping companies, through their heyday to the early 1970’s.
