{{Short description|Suburb of Southampton, England}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox UK place |official_name= Woolston |type= [[Suburb]] |unitary_england= [[Southampton]] |lieutenancy_england= [[Hampshire]] |static_image_name = Woolston-chops.jpg |static_image_caption = Shops on Bridge Road |region= South East England |country= England |coordinates = {{coord|50.8931|-1.3765|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |population= 13,852 |population_ref= (2011 Census. Ward)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13690902&c=Woolston&d=14&e=62&g=6401938&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1485862738476&enc=1|title=Southampton Ward population 2011|access-date=31 January 2017|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref> |constituency_westminster= [[Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)|Southampton Itchen]] |post_town= SOUTHAMPTON |postcode_area= SO |postcode_district= SO19 |dial_code= 023 |os_grid_reference= }}
'''Woolston''' is a suburb of [[Southampton]], located on the eastern bank of the [[River Itchen, Hampshire|River Itchen]]. It is bounded by the [[River Itchen, Hampshire|River Itchen]], [[Sholing]], [[Peartree Green]], Itchen and [[Weston, Southampton|Weston]].
The area has a strong maritime and aviation history. The former hamlet grew as new industries, roads and railways came to the area in the [[Victorian era]] with Woolston formally incorporated into the borough of Southampton in 1920.<ref name=Gadd1>{{cite book |last= Wyeth-Gadd |first= Eric|title= Southampton in the twenties |year= 1979 |isbn= 0-86146-003-0 }}</ref>
==History== {{main|History of Woolston, Southampton}} [[File:Woolston Vosper Thorneycroft site.jpg|thumb|View over the site of the shipyard and [[Southampton Water]] to [[Fawley, Hampshire|Fawley]]]]
Woolston is believed to originate from ''Olafs tun'',<ref name=Brown>{{cite book |last= Brown |first= Jim|title= The Illustrated history of Southampton's Suburbs |publisher= Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd |date=September 2004 |isbn= 1-85983-405-1 }}</ref> a fortified [[Town|tun]] 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''.<ref name=Brown/>
The former hamlet grew as new industries, roads and railways came to the area in the [[Victorian era]] with Woolston formally incorporated into the borough of Southampton in 1920.<ref name=Gadd1 /> [[First-class cricket]] was briefly played at Woolston at [[Day's Itchen Ground]] by [[Hampshire county cricket team (pre-1864)|Hampshire]] from 1848 to 1850; the ground was leased on land owned by the Woolston Hotel, today known as The Cricketers Arms, on Portsmouth Road.<ref>{{cite book |title=Cricket Grounds of Hampshire|publisher=[[The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians]]|year=1988|pages=12–13|url=https://archive.acscricket.com/cricket_grounds/hampshire_grounds/13/index.html#zoom=z|language=en}}</ref>
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 bus terminal that served passengers boarding and departing the [[Woolston ferry]] was no longer required, it was demolished and made way for houses to be built.
In the 21st century Woolston's [[VT Group|Vosper Thorneycroft]] shipyard closed and a new development, [[Centenary Quay]], was built on the site.
==Governance== Before 1920 Woolston was governed as part of the [[Itchen Urban District]], from when it became part of [[Southampton]], which later achieved [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] and then became a [[unitary authority]], governed by [[Southampton City Council]].
Woolston is within the Woolston [[Wards of the United Kingdom|ward]] which also includes the neighbouring [[Weston, Southampton|Weston]]. The ward elects three councillors to the city council, currently all [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southampton.gov.uk/thecouncil/thecouncil/organisation/city-councillors/list.asp?sort=ward|title=Find your local Councillor}}</ref> Many locations generally considered part of Woolston, including the [[Woolston railway station|railway station]] and the Millennium Garden, are in the neighbouring Peartree ward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southampton.gov.uk/council-democracy/councillors/wards-map.aspx|title=Ward Map|website=www.southampton.gov.uk}}</ref>
The Woolston ward is within the [[Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)|Southampton Itchen]] parliamentary constituency, represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by [[Darren Paffey]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] since 2024.
Prior to [[Brexit]] in 2020, the area was represented in the [[European Parliament]] within the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England constituency]].
==Geography== Woolston is bounded by [[Sholing]], [[Peartree Green]], Itchen and [[Weston, Southampton|Weston]]; with the western boundary as the [[River Itchen, Hampshire|River Itchen]]. Its boundary with Weston is the stream that runs through [[Mayfield Park, Hampshire|Mayfield Park]].{{citation needed|date=November 2008}}
The nearest motorway is the [[M27 motorway|M27]]; Woolston is closest to Junctions 7 and 8.
==Economy== Woolston has a shopping area centred on the Victoria Rd/Portsmouth Rd crossroads and by the [[Woolston Floating Bridge]].
There had been a shipbuilding site on Victoria Road since 1870, (from 1900 the [[John I. Thornycroft & Company|Vosper Thornycroft]] shipbuilding company) which was the major employer in Woolston until 31 March 2004 when operations were relocated to Portsmouth.
A large 'supermarket style' [[Co-op]] was opened on Victoria Road in April 2004, to replace a smaller ageing shop on the same road. On Saturday 23 May 2015, the large [[Co-op]] was shut down and the building sold to [[Lidl]], which opened in February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/12898143.fifty-staff-at-risk-of-redundancy-at-co-operative-in-obelisk-road-woolston/|title=Jobs face axe as supermarket is sold|website=Daily Echo|date=19 April 2015 }}</ref>
===Woolston Riverside Regeneration=== [[File:Centenary Quay development - geograph.org.uk - 5237634.jpg|thumb|Centenary Quay development]] The Victoria Road shipyard site was acquired by the [[South East England Development Agency]] (SEEDA) in March 2003.<ref name="ReferenceB">SEEDA Board meeting, 22 January 2004</ref> and finally vacated by Vosper Thorneycroft March 2004.<ref name="planningstatement" />
The [[South East England Development Agency]] subsequently announced plans for the site, to be split into two sections: * A residential and retail area, under the brand name [[Centenary Quay]]. * 8.2 hectares<ref name="planningstatement" /> for a marine employment quarter at the north of the site providing 820 jobs.<ref name="planningstatement">{{cite press release|title=Centenary Quay Woolston: Planning Statement |date=March 2008 |publisher=Crest Nicholson |url=http://www.southampton.gov.uk/Images/CQ%20Planning%20Statment%20Final_tcm46-199570.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927185307/http://www.southampton.gov.uk/Images/CQ%20Planning%20Statment%20Final_tcm46-199570.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> This sector will also include an 'upper tier budget hotel'.<ref name="planningstatement" />
The marine and commercial section will include several quays for vessels: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Feature ! Description |- | North Quay | specialist working quay for repair and refit of vessels up to 75 m |- | [[Centenary Quay]] | 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 redevelopment of the waterside site may rejuvenate the shopping area, but has also been predicted to place extra burden on the Itchen Bridge and cause extra congestion in Woolston.<ref>Southampton Daily Echo, 19 April 2008</ref> Developers of the residential site are reported to be considering the possibility of re-introducing a ferry service to Southampton.<ref>Southampton Daily Echo. 19 April 2008</ref>
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 at Weston Shore where the [[Royal Navy]] stores once stood. Clearing that [[brownfield land|brownfield site]] was a major exercise, complicated by old munitions, including [[Mustard Gas]] shells which had been buried in the ground and [[asbestos]]. The redeveloped area is now in the district of Woolston<ref>Southampton City Council. Southampton Online. Southampton Property search</ref>
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.<ref>Crest Nicholson, Woolston riverside website</ref>
==Landmarks== [[File:The Millennium Feather, Woolston, Southampton - geograph.org.uk - 22106.jpg|thumb|left|Millennium Feather]] The Woolston Millennium Garden was created for the residents by a local group. It was completed in 2002. Its focal point is a 10-metre tall metal and recycled glass feather intended to signify Woolston's history of flight and sail. The garden is divided into three areas, signifying the earth, the sky and the sea. Many of the crew of the Titanic came from Woolston and there are bricks in the pathway through the garden that are inscribed with their names.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
[[Centenary Quay]] also has Southamptons tallest building, on the edge of Woolston.
==Education== {{update|section|date=January 2024}} [[File:Woolston-school.jpg|thumb|Woolston School, October 2007]]
St. Mark's Infants school in Church Road moved to new premises in Florence Road in 1974, becoming Woolston First School and is now 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.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
Woolston no longer provides education for pupils over the age of eleven, since [[Woolston School]] was controversially<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/search/787038.Another_schools_protest_is_at_the_door__councillors/|title=Another schools protest is at the door, councillors|date= 8 June 2006|work=The Southern Daily Echo|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=2 January 2009}}</ref> closed in July 2008 to make way for the [[Oasis Academy Mayfield]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/search/1516605.Four_schools__will_be_axed/|title=Four schools will be axed|date=<!-- 4:08pm --> 3 July 2007|work=The Southern Daily Echo|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=2 January 2009}}</ref>
[[Southampton City College]] operates a ''Marine Skills Centre'' on Hazel Road which runs vocational courses (usually for 16+ pupils).
==Religious sites== [[File:St Mark's church, Woolston.jpg|thumb|St Mark's church, Woolston]] Woolston has three Christian places of worship. St. Mark's Church, built in 1863<ref name=Brown/> and a Grade II [[listed building]],<ref>{{NHLE|grade=II|desc=Church of St Mark|num= 1091989|date=8 October 1981}}</ref> serves the [[Church of England]] community; St. Patrick's Church, built in 1884<ref name=Brown/> serves the [[Roman Catholic]] community (the site also houses a catholic primary school). There is also a [[Kingdom Hall]] operated by [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].
St. Mary's [[Presbyterian]] Church was built in 1876<ref name=Brown/> but was demolished in 1972.<ref name=Gadd1/><ref>Southampton. A pictorial peep into the past, Southern Newspapers Ltd, 1980</ref>
==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, Southampton|Mayfield Park]], a partially wooded, partially open recreational area situated on the border of Woolston and neighbouring [[Weston, Southampton|Weston]].
The building that was previously St. Mark's Infants School in Church Road is now Woolston Community Centre.
==Public services== The fire station in Portsmouth Road was no longer required once the Itchen Bridge provided easy access for the fire crews at St Mary's on the Southampton side of the river. That old building is now a Doctors' surgery.
Across the road are two more doctors surgeries – Woolston Lodge Surgery and Canute Surgery – and a Lloyds pharmacy.
==Transport== [[Woolston railway station]] is on the [[West Coastway Line]], situated at the end of the [[Itchen Bridge]] and operated by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]. The line from [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton]] to [[Woolston railway station|Woolston]] was opened on 5 March 1866,<ref name=MitchSmith>{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Vic |author2=Smith, Keith |title=South Coast Railways – Portsmouth to Southampton |date=June 1986 |publisher=Middleton Press |isbn=0-906520-31-2 }}</ref> accessible from Bridge Road, with an extension opened in November 1867<ref name=MitchSmith/> to serve the [[Netley Hospital|Royal Victoria Military Hospital]] at [[Netley]], where it originally terminated. The line was extended to [[Fareham railway station|Fareham]] on 2 September 1889,<ref name=MitchSmith/> whereupon it became possible to run through trains to [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth]] via a separate line that had been built to link [[Eastleigh railway station|Eastleigh]] and [[Gosport railway station|Gosport]] in 1841.<ref name=MitchSmith/>
[[File:Itchen Bridge in 2007 HDR.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Itchen Bridge]]]]
The Itchen Bridge is a [[toll bridge]] that crosses the [[River Itchen, Hampshire|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, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra]].<ref>Southampton Echo, 13 June 1977</ref> 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, Hampshire|Northam]]. Tolls are charged for vehicles crossing the bridge, toll booths and a control room are situated at the Woolston end. Buses, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists cross free. A cable ferry served Woolston from 1938 until the opening of the bridge. Prior to the [[Woolston 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 bus-only access to the Itchen Bridge which by-passes the toll booths, served by a number of bus routes running through the suburb.
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * [https://www.southampton.gov.uk/media/yyncgowi/woolston_conservation_area_appraisal_january_2010_tcm63-363376.pdf WOOLSTON – SOUTHAMPTON CONSERVATION AREAS APPRAISAL], Southampton City Council and HGP Architects (2010)
{{Districts of Southampton}}
[[Category:Wards of Southampton]]