Woolston, Southampton
Encyclopedia
Woolston is a suburb of Southampton
, Hampshire
, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen
. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire
, Sholing
, Peartree Green
, Itchen and Weston.
The area is rich in maritime and aviation history. The ancient hamlet grew as new industries, roads and railways came to the area in the Victorian era
with Woolston being formally incorporated into the borough of Southampton in 1920.
on the East bank of the River Itchen established by the Viking
leader Olaf I of Norway
in the 10th Century.
In the Domesday Book
of 1086, the area is recorded as Olvestune. The area now known as Woolston is certain to have received consignments of wool to be ferried across the River Itchen, Hampshire
by the inhabitants of Itchen Ferry village. The evolution of Olvestune into "Woolston" is a result of that trade.
The ancient hamlet grew as new industries, roads and railways came to the area in the Victorian era
with Woolston being formally incorporated into the borough of Southampton in 1920.
Development of the Itchen Bridge
in the 1970s, to link Woolston with the Southampton City Centre, required significant changes. Old terraces had to be demolished to make room for the new structure. However as the station that served passengers boarding and departing the Woolston ferry
was no longer required, it was demolished and made way for many new townhouses to be built.
Now, at the start of the 21st century, Woolston is again experiencing a period of major change, with the closure of the Vosper Thorneycroft shipyard and the start of construction on Centenary Quay on the site.
, from when it became part of Southampton
, which later achieved city status
and then became a unitary authority
, governed by Southampton City Council.
Woolston is within the Woolston ward
which also includes the neighbouring Weston. The ward elects three councillors to the city council, currently all Labour
members: Carol Cunio; Warwick Payne and Richard Williams.
The Woolston ward is within the Southampton Itchen parliamentary constituency, represented in the House of Commons by John Denham of the Labour Party
since 1992.
The area is represented in the European Parliament
within the South East England constituency
.
, Peartree Green
and Weston; with the western boundary as the River Itchen
. Its boundary with Weston is the stream that runs through Mayfield Park
.
The nearest motorway is the M27
; Woolston is closest to Junctions 7 and 8.
A busy shopping area centred around the Victoria Rd/Portsmouth Rd crossroads and by the Woolston Floating Bridge was bypassed by the Itchen Bridge
, resulting in a loss of trade for the area.
There had been a shipbuilding site on Victoria Road since 1870, (from 1900 the Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilding company) which was the major employer in Woolston until 31 March 2004 when Vosper Thorneycroft relocated its operations to Portsmouth.
A large 'supermarket style' Co-op was recently built on Victoria Road, to replace a smaller ageing shop on the same road. Woolston has several takeaways, along with the odd cafe and restaurant. The recession hit Victoria Road (Woolston's high street) hard, with many shops closing. On the 30th December 2008 Woolworths
closed, and Adams (a children's clothing retailer) soon followed.
(SEEDA) in March 2003. and finally vacated by Vosper Thorneycroft March 2004.
The South East England Development Agency
subsequently announced plans for the site, to be split into two sections:
The marine and commercial section will include several quays for vessels:
The imminent redevelopment of that large waterside site seems likely to rejuvenate the shopping area, but the redevelopment has also been predicted to place extra burden on the Itchen Bridge and cause extra congestion in Woolston. Developers of the residential site are reported to be considering the possibility of re-introducing a ferry service to Southampton.
Work started on phase one of the Centenary Quay
development July 2010. Phase one consists of creating family housing to the east of the site, as well as establishing a frontage to Victoria Road.
Houses have already been built on the land where the Royal Navy
stores once stood. Clearing that brownfield site was a major exercise, complicated by old munitions, including Mustard Gas shells which had been buried in the ground and asbestos
. The redevloped area is now in the district of Woolston
Woolston is thus becoming more of a residential area, though it will still retain some marine industry with facilities to berth vessels of up to 76 m in length, including perhaps Tall ships.
is on the West Coastway Line
, situated at the end of the Itchen Bridge
and operated by South West Trains
. The line from Southampton to Woolston was opened on 5 March 1866, accessible from Bridge Road, with an extension opened in November 1967 to serve the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
at Netley
, where it originally terminated. The line was extended to Fareham
on 2 September 1889, whereupon it became possible to run through trains to Portsmouth via a separate line that had been built to link Eastleigh and Gosport in 1841.
The Itchen Bridge is a toll bridge
that crosses the River Itchen
, from Woolston to the Chapel area of Southampton near Ocean Village
and St. Mary's Stadium. The bridge was opened to traffic on 1 June 1977 and formally named on 13 June 1977 by Princess Alexandra
. Costing £5.7 million, the high-level concrete bridge spans 107 m between its central pillars and carries two lanes of traffic 24 m above the river, allowing large vessels to proceed further upstream to the wharfs and quays in Northam. Tolls are charged for vehicles crossing the bridge, toll booths and a control room are situated at the Woolston end, however pedestrians and cyclists travel free. Nearly 600,000 vehicles a month use the bridge to cross the river. This is considerably more than were ever accommodated on the Woolston Floating Bridge, a cable ferry
which served Woolston from 1938 until the opening of the bridge. Prior to the Floating Bridge, the Itchen ferry
boats provided transport across the River Itchen.
There is a major bus stop on the Woolston link road (a separate entrance/exit to the Itchen Bridge not used by normal cars), with a number of (mostly First Group) buses running through the suburb.
Woolston no longer provides education for pupils over the age of eleven, since Woolston School
was controversially closed in July 2008 to make way for Oasis Academy Mayfield
. The woolston school porchester road site is at present in the stages of being demolished to make way for new buildings (to be confirmed by the counsil). The former Key Stage 4
block has now been relocated to sholing Grove site as the new site has been completed as of July 2011. In february 2012 all students hope to start study at the newly built site Oasis Academy Mayfield
- in Sholing.
City College Southampton operates a Marine Skills Centre on Hazel Road which runs vocational courses (usually for 16+ pupils).
community; St. Patrick's Church, built in 1884 serves the Roman Catholic community (the site also houses a catholic primary school) and there is a Kingdom Hall
operated by Jehovah's Witnesses
.
St. Mary's Presbyterian Church was built in 1876 but was demolished in 1972.
The building that was previously St. Mark's Infants School in Church Road is now Woolston Community Centre.
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...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
, Sholing
Sholing
Sholing, previously Scholing, is a district on the eastern side of the city of Southampton in southern England. It is located between the districts of Bitterne, Thornhill and Woolston....
, Peartree Green
Peartree Green
Peartree Green is an open space on high ground on the East bank of the River Itchen in Hampshire which adjoins the districts of Woolston, Bitterne, Sholing and Merryoak within the city of Southampton....
, Itchen and Weston.
The area is rich in maritime and aviation history. The ancient hamlet grew as new industries, roads and railways came to the area in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
with Woolston being formally incorporated into the borough of Southampton in 1920.
History
Woolston is believed to originate from Olafs tun, a fortified tunTown
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
on the East bank of the River Itchen established by the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
leader Olaf I of Norway
Olaf I of Norway
Olaf Tryggvason was King of Norway from 995 to 1000. He was the son of Tryggvi Olafsson, king of Viken , and, according to later sagas, the great-grandson of Harald Fairhair, first King of Norway.Olaf played an important part in the often forcible, on pain of torture or death, conversion of the...
in the 10th Century.
In the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086, the area is recorded as Olvestune. The area now known as Woolston is certain to have received consignments of wool to be ferried across the River Itchen, Hampshire
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
by the inhabitants of Itchen Ferry village. The evolution of Olvestune into "Woolston" is a result of that trade.
The ancient hamlet grew as new industries, roads and railways came to the area in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
with Woolston being formally incorporated into the borough of Southampton in 1920.
Development of the Itchen Bridge
Itchen Bridge
The Itchen Bridge is a bridge over the River Itchen in Southampton, Hampshire. It is a high-level hollow box girder bridge. It is located approximately 1 km from the river mouth. The bridge spans , is at its highest point and weighs 62,000 tons. It was officially opened July 13, 1977. At the...
in the 1970s, to link Woolston with the Southampton City Centre, required significant changes. Old terraces had to be demolished to make room for the new structure. However as the station that served passengers boarding and departing the Woolston ferry
Woolston ferry
The Woolston Floating Bridge, was a cable ferry that crossed the River Itchen in England between Woolston and Southampton from 23 November 1836 until 11 June 1977...
was no longer required, it was demolished and made way for many new townhouses to be built.
Now, at the start of the 21st century, Woolston is again experiencing a period of major change, with the closure of the Vosper Thorneycroft shipyard and the start of construction on Centenary Quay on the site.
Governance
Before 1920 Woolston was governed as part of the Itchen Urban DistrictItchen Urban District
Itchen was an urban district in Hampshire, England from 1898 to 1920.It was formed in 1898 from the parishes of St Mary Extra and Sholing . From 1894 to 1898 both these parishes had formed part of the South Stoneham Rural District. A unified parish of Itchen, coterminous with the urban district...
, from when it became part 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...
, which later achieved city status
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
and then became a unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
, governed by Southampton City Council.
Woolston is within the Woolston ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
which also includes the neighbouring Weston. The ward elects three councillors to the city council, currently all Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
members: Carol Cunio; Warwick Payne and Richard Williams.
The Woolston ward is within the Southampton Itchen parliamentary constituency, represented in the House of Commons by John Denham of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
since 1992.
The area is represented in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
within the South East England constituency
South East England (European Parliament constituency)
South East England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 10 Members of the European Parliament using the D'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
.
Geography
Woolston is bounded by SholingSholing
Sholing, previously Scholing, is a district on the eastern side of the city of Southampton in southern England. It is located between the districts of Bitterne, Thornhill and Woolston....
, Peartree Green
Peartree Green
Peartree Green is an open space on high ground on the East bank of the River Itchen in Hampshire which adjoins the districts of Woolston, Bitterne, Sholing and Merryoak within the city of Southampton....
and Weston; with the western boundary as the River Itchen
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
. Its boundary with Weston 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....
.
The nearest motorway is the M27
M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
; Woolston is closest to Junctions 7 and 8.
Economy
Itchen Bridge
The Itchen Bridge is a bridge over the River Itchen in Southampton, Hampshire. It is a high-level hollow box girder bridge. It is located approximately 1 km from the river mouth. The bridge spans , is at its highest point and weighs 62,000 tons. It was officially opened July 13, 1977. At the...
, resulting in a loss of trade for the area.
There had been a shipbuilding site on Victoria Road since 1870, (from 1900 the Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilding company) which was the major employer in Woolston until 31 March 2004 when Vosper Thorneycroft relocated its operations to Portsmouth.
A large 'supermarket style' Co-op was recently built on Victoria Road, to replace a smaller ageing shop on the same road. Woolston has several takeaways, along with the odd cafe and restaurant. The recession hit Victoria Road (Woolston's high street) hard, with many shops closing. On the 30th December 2008 Woolworths
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
closed, and Adams (a children's clothing retailer) soon followed.
Woolston Riverside Regeneration
The Victoria Road shipyard site was acquired by the South East England Development AgencySouth East England Development Agency
SEEDA, more officially the South East England Development Agency, is one of a number of regional development agencies in England. It was set up as a non-departmental public body in 1999 to promote the region and to enable a number of more difficult regeneration projects which otherwise might not...
(SEEDA) in March 2003. and finally vacated by Vosper Thorneycroft March 2004.
The South East England Development Agency
South East England Development Agency
SEEDA, more officially the South East England Development Agency, is one of a number of regional development agencies in England. It was set up as a non-departmental public body in 1999 to promote the region and to enable a number of more difficult regeneration projects which otherwise might not...
subsequently announced plans for the site, to be split into two sections:
- A residential and retail area, to be developed and delivered by Crest NicholsonCrest NicholsonCrest Nicholson is a British housebuilding company based in Chertsey, Surrey.-History:The Company was founded by Bryan Skinner in 1963 as Crest Homes and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1968. One of the characteristics that differentiated Crest from most other housebuilders of the time was...
under the brand name Centenary QuayCentenary QuayCentenary Quay , is a new development which has commenced in the suburb of Woolston in Southampton. The development is being built on the site of 31 acres, which was previously home to Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilders because of its ideal placement on the eastern bank of the River Itchen.- Plans...
. - 8.2 hectares for a marine employment quarter at the north of the site resulting in 820 employees - with plans developed by Dean and Dyball, but with SEEDA now responsible for the delivery of the site. This sector will also include a 'upper tier budget hotel'.
The marine and commercial section will include several quays for vessels:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| North Quay | specialist working quay for repair and refit of vessels up to 75 m |
| Centenary Quay Centenary Quay Centenary Quay , is a new development which has commenced in the suburb of Woolston in Southampton. The development is being built on the site of 31 acres, which was previously home to Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilders because of its ideal placement on the eastern bank of the River Itchen.- Plans... |
main commercial quayside housing vessels up to 76 m. |
| Central Basin | working area focused around a large hoist dock or lift with associated pontoon berthing. |
| South Quay | new pier to accommodate feature vessels up to 65 m. |
The imminent redevelopment of that large waterside site seems likely to rejuvenate the shopping area, but the redevelopment has also been predicted to place extra burden on the Itchen Bridge and cause extra congestion in Woolston. Developers of the residential site are reported to be considering the possibility of re-introducing a ferry service to Southampton.
Work started on phase one of the Centenary Quay
Centenary Quay
Centenary Quay , is a new development which has commenced in the suburb of Woolston in Southampton. The development is being built on the site of 31 acres, which was previously home to Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilders because of its ideal placement on the eastern bank of the River Itchen.- Plans...
development July 2010. Phase one consists of creating family housing to the east of the site, as well as establishing a frontage to Victoria Road.
Houses have already been built on the land where 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...
stores once stood. Clearing that brownfield site was a major exercise, complicated by old munitions, including Mustard Gas shells which had been buried in the ground and asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
. The redevloped area is now in the district of Woolston
Woolston is thus becoming more of a residential area, though it will still retain some marine industry with facilities to berth vessels of up to 76 m in length, including perhaps Tall ships.
Landmarks
The Woolston Millennium Garden was created for the residents by a local group who wanted to give something back to the area and inject some pride into the area. Its focal point is a large metal feather intended to signify Woolston's history of flight and sail.Transport
Woolston railway stationWoolston railway station
Woolston railway station is a grade II listed railway station serving the suburb of Woolston in the city of Southampton, England. The station is operated by South West Trains. Just past Woolston station the line rounds the River Itchen giving a view into the city of Southampton, including...
is on the West Coastway Line
West Coastway Line
The West Coastway Line is a railway line in England, along the south coast of West Sussex and Hampshire, between Brighton and Southampton, plus the short branches to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis....
, situated at the end of the Itchen Bridge
Itchen Bridge
The Itchen Bridge is a bridge over the River Itchen in Southampton, Hampshire. It is a high-level hollow box girder bridge. It is located approximately 1 km from the river mouth. The bridge spans , is at its highest point and weighs 62,000 tons. It was officially opened July 13, 1977. At the...
and operated by South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
. The line from Southampton to Woolston was opened on 5 March 1866, accessible from Bridge Road, with an extension opened in November 1967 to serve 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...
, where it originally terminated. The line was extended to Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
on 2 September 1889, whereupon it became possible to run through trains to Portsmouth via a separate line that had been built to link Eastleigh and Gosport in 1841.
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
that crosses the River Itchen
River Itchen, Hampshire
The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England. It flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in the city of Southampton. The river has a total length of , and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing,...
, from Woolston to the Chapel area of Southampton near Ocean Village
Ocean Village
Ocean Village was a British-American owned cruise line, based in Southampton, England. Designed to offer and alternative cruise experience, Ocean Village was founded by P&O Princess Cruises PLC, which later merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & PLC...
and St. Mary's Stadium. The bridge was opened to traffic on 1 June 1977 and formally named on 13 June 1977 by Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
. Costing £5.7 million, the high-level concrete bridge spans 107 m between its central pillars and carries two lanes of traffic 24 m above the river, allowing large vessels to proceed further upstream to the wharfs and quays in Northam. Tolls are charged for vehicles crossing the bridge, toll booths and a control room are situated at the Woolston end, however pedestrians and cyclists travel free. Nearly 600,000 vehicles a month use the bridge to cross the river. This is considerably more than were ever accommodated on the Woolston Floating Bridge, a cable ferry
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
which served Woolston from 1938 until the opening of the bridge. Prior to the Floating Bridge, the Itchen ferry
Itchen ferry
The Itchen Ferry is a type of small gaff rig cutter that was originally used for fishing in the Solent and surrounding waters and often raced in town regattas...
boats provided transport across the River Itchen.
There is a major bus stop on the Woolston link road (a separate entrance/exit to the Itchen Bridge not used by normal cars), with a number of (mostly First Group) buses running through the suburb.
Education
St. Mark's Infants school in Church Road, moved to new premises in Florence Road in 1974, becoming Woolston First School and now today is known as Woolston Infant School. Ludlow Infant School is situated on the same site as Ludlow Junior School, the largest Southampton primary school with 600 pupils.Woolston no longer provides education for pupils over the age of eleven, since Woolston School
Woolston School
Woolston School Language College was a secondary comprehensive school in Southampton, Hampshire, in southern England. The most recent Ofsted inspection was on 10 October 2006. The school was a Specialist Language College for student that were 11 to 16 years old...
was controversially closed in July 2008 to make way for Oasis Academy Mayfield
Oasis Academy Mayfield
Oasis Academy Mayfield is a city academy in Southampton, England run by Oasis Community Learning with approximately 900 pupils....
. The woolston school porchester road site is at present in the stages of being demolished to make way for new buildings (to be confirmed by the counsil). The former Key Stage 4
Key Stage 4
Key Stage 4 is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other exams, in maintained schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—normally known as Year 10 and Year 11 in England and Wales, and Year 11 and Year 12 in Northern Ireland, when pupils are...
block has now been relocated to sholing Grove site as the new site has been completed as of July 2011. In february 2012 all students hope to start study at the newly built site Oasis Academy Mayfield
Oasis Academy Mayfield
Oasis Academy Mayfield is a city academy in Southampton, England run by Oasis Community Learning with approximately 900 pupils....
- in Sholing.
City College Southampton operates a Marine Skills Centre on Hazel Road which runs vocational courses (usually for 16+ pupils).
Religious sites
Woolston has three Christian places of worship. St. Mark's Church, built in 1863 serves the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
community; St. Patrick's Church, built in 1884 serves the Roman Catholic community (the site also houses a catholic primary school) and there is a Kingdom Hall
Kingdom Hall
A Kingdom Hall is a place of worship used by Jehovah's Witnesses. The term was first suggested in 1935 by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, for a building in Hawaii...
operated by Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
.
St. Mary's Presbyterian Church was built in 1876 but was demolished in 1972.
Leisure and community
The Archery Grounds, bounded by Swift Road and Archery Road, consists of a large grass space, with a children's play area. There is a path leading through to Mayfield Park, a partially wooded, partially open recreational area situated on the border of Woolston and neighbouring Weston.The building that was previously St. Mark's Infants School in Church Road is now Woolston Community Centre.