Weston, Southampton
Encyclopedia
Weston is a small suburb on the south-eastern side of Southampton
, UK
, predominantly built on the Weston Grove Estate formerly owned by the Chamberlayne family. It also includes the area that was previously the Barnfield Estate. Weston includes part of Mayfield Park
, which was previously the Mayfield Estate
Weston is bounded by Woolston, Netley
and Southampton Water
. Its boundary with Woolston is the stream that runs through Mayfield Park
.
John de Weston is recorded as a Burgess of Southampton in 1332. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there are occasional records of disputes over fishing rights
The Seaweed Hut that used to stand on Weston Shore appears on 17th century maps. It was used to store the fishermens equipment.
His son, William Chamberlayne, later to become MP for the Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
, inherited the estate on the death of his father in 1799. In 1802, William Chamberlayne built Weston Grove House, forming the Weston Grove estate.
The Weston Grove estate was subsequently inherited by Thomas Chamberlayne
in 1831. Part of the Estate was sold to Col Robert Wright in 1854, to create the Mayfield estate. The Barnfield estate was situated between Weston Grove House and the Mayfield estate and is shown on the 1864 Ordnance Survey map (NC/03/17984)
Denzil Chamberlayne, eldest son of Thomas Chamberlayne, took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade
. He died in 1873.
In 1876, Tankerville Chamberlayne
inherited the estate. He too was to become MP for the Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
. He died in 1924 leaving a daughter, Penelope Mary Alexandra Chamberlayne, who married Major Nigel Donald Peter Macdonald (son of Sir Godfrey Middleton Bosville Macdonald of the Isles (15th Baronet)), changing their surname to "Chamberlayne-Macdonald".
. Barnfield House and Mayfield House were definitely among them, convenient due to their proximity to the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
at Netley
. Whether Weston Grove House was also used for this purpose is not yet confirmed.
The Royal Navy
also had a large site between Archery Road and the waterfront, on land that was originally part of the Weston Grove estate . Built in 1917, this building was half a mile long and was originally used as a rolling mill, to produce brass strip that was used to make small calibre shell cases. The depot was subsequently used as Royal Navy stores, finally closing in 1987.
Weston did not become part of Southampton until 1920, when it started to become more urbanised. A consequence was that Weston Lane was widened to cater for the motor car, demolishing two impressive stone arches built by William Chamberlayne (MP) that allowed him to cross between different parts of his Weston Grove estate unhindered by the Weston Lane. The arch at the upper end of Weston Lane was demolished in 1931 and the arch at the lower end was demolished in 1948.
In 1909, an act of Parliament required that 189 acre (0.76485654 km²) of land be sold to London and South Western Railway
, by Tankerville Chamberlayne
, for the purpose of building an enormous dry dock some 1600 ft (487.7 m). Although the land was acquired, the project didn't proceed. The site was subsequently sold to the Ministry of Munitions and the Rolling Mills were built instead. Situated directly below Weston Grove House, the Rolling Mills building obstructed the view of Southampton Water from Weston Grove House. The house was demolished in 1940. The site was subsequently used to build the Telephone Engineering Centre, in Archery Road.
Although there is some pre-war
housing in Weston Lane, near Holy Trinity Church, the bulk of Weston was built to meet the post-war
demand for new housing in Southampton
.
Many of the first new homes in this area were prefabs. Some of those supposedly temporary buildings still exist, suitably modernised.
Modern Weston mainly consists of housing estates and Tower block
s. It suffers some of the problems that are associated with this type of housing, but Hampton Towers, Havre Towers, Oslo Towers, Copenhagen Towers, Rotterdam Towers and Canberra Towers are a very distinctive landmark when approaching the port of Southampton
by sea.
Weston borders Southampton Water
at a shingle beach
where some 1930s beach shelters can still be seen. This is Southampton
's only remaining shoreline and is a good place to observe Southampton's double high-tide.
Weston Shore draws large crowds for every cruise liner that makes its first or final trip along Southampton Water to the port of Southampton
. It has also attracted large crowds to witness air displays over Southampton water.
This stretch of shoreline was closed to the public and packed with troops, equipment and landing craft in the build-up to D-day
and in the subsequent re-supply operations.
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, predominantly built on the Weston Grove Estate formerly owned by the Chamberlayne family. It also includes the area that was previously the Barnfield Estate. Weston includes part of Mayfield Park
Mayfield Park, Hampshire
Mayfield Park is a recreational area straddling Woolston and Weston in Southampton, England. The stream that runs through the park is the boundary between the two districts of modern Southampton....
, which was previously the Mayfield Estate
Weston is bounded by Woolston, Netley
Netley
Netley, sometimes called Netley Abbey, is a village on the south coast of Hampshire, England, situated on the east side of the city of Southampton...
and Southampton Water
Southampton Water
Southampton Water is a tidal estuary north of the Solent and the Isle of Wight in England. The city of Southampton lies at its most northerly point. Along its salt marsh-fringed western shores lie the New Forest villages of Hythe and "the waterside", Dibden Bay, and the Esso oil refinery at Fawley...
. Its boundary with Woolston is the stream that runs through Mayfield Park
Mayfield Park, Hampshire
Mayfield Park is a recreational area straddling Woolston and Weston in Southampton, England. The stream that runs through the park is the boundary between the two districts of modern Southampton....
.
Origins
Weston was originally a small fishing community. The earliest references date to the end of the 10th century .John de Weston is recorded as a Burgess of Southampton in 1332. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there are occasional records of disputes over fishing rights
The Seaweed Hut that used to stand on Weston Shore appears on 17th century maps. It was used to store the fishermens equipment.
The Chamberlayne family
In 1424, Ralph Chamberlayne's wife Alice inherited an estate on the east bank of the River Itchen. What that estate contained, how it subsequently changed hands and was split-up is not clear, but at least part of it remained connected with the Chamberlayne family as in 1781, William Chamberlayne inherited what was then the Weston Park Estate from Thomas Dummer.His son, William Chamberlayne, later to become MP for the Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
, inherited the estate on the death of his father in 1799. In 1802, William Chamberlayne built Weston Grove House, forming the Weston Grove estate.
The Weston Grove estate was subsequently inherited by Thomas Chamberlayne
Thomas Chamberlayne (cricketer)
Thomas Chamberlayne was an English cricketer and yachtsman.-Early life:...
in 1831. Part of the Estate was sold to Col Robert Wright in 1854, to create the Mayfield estate. The Barnfield estate was situated between Weston Grove House and the Mayfield estate and is shown on the 1864 Ordnance Survey map (NC/03/17984)
Denzil Chamberlayne, eldest son of Thomas Chamberlayne, took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
. He died in 1873.
In 1876, Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne was a landowner in Hampshire and a Member of Parliament, serving the Southampton constituency three times, as an Independent and Conservative. Following the 1895 General Election false allegations were made concerning his conduct and this resulted in his being unseated on...
inherited the estate. He too was to become MP for the Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
. He died in 1924 leaving a daughter, Penelope Mary Alexandra Chamberlayne, who married Major Nigel Donald Peter Macdonald (son of Sir Godfrey Middleton Bosville Macdonald of the Isles (15th Baronet)), changing their surname to "Chamberlayne-Macdonald".
World War I
A number of the larger houses in Southampton were used to treat wounded soldiers during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Barnfield House and Mayfield House were definitely among them, convenient due to their proximity to the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
Netley Hospital
The Royal Victoria Hospital, or Netley Hospital was a large military hospital in Netley, near Southampton, Hampshire, England. Construction started in 1856 at the suggestion of Queen Victoria but its design caused some controversy, chiefly from Florence Nightingale. Often visited by Queen Victoria,...
at Netley
Netley
Netley, sometimes called Netley Abbey, is a village on the south coast of Hampshire, England, situated on the east side of the city of Southampton...
. Whether Weston Grove House was also used for this purpose is not yet confirmed.
The Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
also had a large site between Archery Road and the waterfront, on land that was originally part of the Weston Grove estate . Built in 1917, this building was half a mile long and was originally used as a rolling mill, to produce brass strip that was used to make small calibre shell cases. The depot was subsequently used as Royal Navy stores, finally closing in 1987.
Development
In 1909, an act of Parliament required that 189 acre (0.76485654 km²) of land be sold to London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
, by Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne was a landowner in Hampshire and a Member of Parliament, serving the Southampton constituency three times, as an Independent and Conservative. Following the 1895 General Election false allegations were made concerning his conduct and this resulted in his being unseated on...
, for the purpose of building an enormous dry dock some 1600 ft (487.7 m). Although the land was acquired, the project didn't proceed. The site was subsequently sold to the Ministry of Munitions and the Rolling Mills were built instead. Situated directly below Weston Grove House, the Rolling Mills building obstructed the view of Southampton Water from Weston Grove House. The house was demolished in 1940. The site was subsequently used to build the Telephone Engineering Centre, in Archery Road.
Although there is some pre-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
housing in Weston Lane, near Holy Trinity Church, the bulk of Weston was built to meet the post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
demand for new housing in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.
Many of the first new homes in this area were prefabs. Some of those supposedly temporary buildings still exist, suitably modernised.
Modern Weston mainly consists of housing estates and Tower block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
s. It suffers some of the problems that are associated with this type of housing, but Hampton Towers, Havre Towers, Oslo Towers, Copenhagen Towers, Rotterdam Towers and Canberra Towers are a very distinctive landmark when approaching the port of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
by sea.
Weston Shore
Southampton Water
Southampton Water is a tidal estuary north of the Solent and the Isle of Wight in England. The city of Southampton lies at its most northerly point. Along its salt marsh-fringed western shores lie the New Forest villages of Hythe and "the waterside", Dibden Bay, and the Esso oil refinery at Fawley...
at a shingle beach
Shingle beach
A shingle beach is a beach which is armoured with pebbles or small- to medium-sized cobbles. Typically, the stone composition may grade from characteristic sizes ranging from two to 200 mm diameter....
where some 1930s beach shelters can still be seen. This is Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
's only remaining shoreline and is a good place to observe Southampton's double high-tide.
Weston Shore draws large crowds for every cruise liner that makes its first or final trip along Southampton Water to the port of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. It has also attracted large crowds to witness air displays over Southampton water.
This stretch of shoreline was closed to the public and packed with troops, equipment and landing craft in the build-up to D-day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
and in the subsequent re-supply operations.