The missing link to Southampton's Bargate (From Daily Echo)
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The missing link to Southampton's Bargate
9:40am Sunday 26th July 2009 in Hampshire Heritage
Councillors John Hannides and Royston Smith on the Bargate old walls. Picture by Matt Watson.
SOUTHAMPTON’S Bargate monument is to be reconnected with the city’s medieval walls for the first time in about eight decades, the Daily Echo can today reveal.
Southampton City Council’s Tory leaders want a new footbridge to link the 800-year-old building to the remaining walls immediately on Bargate Street.
The walkway will effectively be an extension of the existing footbridge, which has proved a hit with tourists since opening in 1991, that runs over Castle Way.
The scheme will attempt to undo the work of German bombers and previous council leaders who, in the 1930s and 40s, demolished sections of walls on either side of the Bargate.
historic It’s also part of a wider scheme to once again make the Bargate a focal point in the city centre, with plans unveiled last month to turn the first floor of the historic monument into a cafe.
Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, said the entrance to the new footbridge would be created on the western side of the ancient building.
“For the first time since the 1930s we will be able to connect the old walls to the Bargate itself. Being able to walk from one to the other will be a tremendous addition to the city’s offering,” he said.
“The Bargate was actually designed for people to walk into its west wing from the walls and we will be looking to create something that is in keeping with the original design.”
It’s most likely the footbridge will be paid for with private developer’s cash that will become available after the construction of Watermark WestQuay or the redevelopment of the Bargate Shopping Centre.
Comments(20)
JuanPablo
says...
10:00am Sun 26 Jul 09
Duncan Disorderly
says...
10:12am Sun 26 Jul 09
What fun that would be. A good number of years ago I saw at the National Tramway Museum near Matlock an old Southampton Corporation open-top tram - on the back of all the upstairs seats was a little sign saying "Passengers are requested to lower their heads when passing through the Bargate".
I guess 'ELf'n'Safety' wouldn't allow that now.
But I think a walkway or an extension of the walls would be a good idea. It'd certainly do more for the appearance of the Bargate than the chav burger-shop that's there at the moment.
Saints Mike
says...
10:12am Sun 26 Jul 09
goard
says...
10:40am Sun 26 Jul 09
southy
says...
11:18am Sun 26 Jul 09
Saints Mike
says...
11:41am Sun 26 Jul 09
southy wrote:Fix the roads fist
rebuild the city walls
Northamboy
says...
11:51am Sun 26 Jul 09
If its being done with private money thats great but please no expenses eating mongrel over seeing it all. Which is usually the case!
By the way how are the two children looking after Southampton education dept getting on? Are they out of short trousers yet and spending their 100k salaries?
King Mush
says...
12:19pm Sun 26 Jul 09
Or was he falling off the wall as the shutter was pressed?
southy
says...
12:21pm Sun 26 Jul 09
Saints Mike wrote:get a socialist party in power and they will be repaired.
southy wrote:Fix the roads fist
rebuild the city walls
freemantlegirl2
says...
3:29pm Sun 26 Jul 09
southy wrote:ah right it's that easy then!! (certain party in power and we get our roads repaired)
Saints Mike wrote:get a socialist party in power and they will be repaired.
southy wrote:Fix the roads fist
rebuild the city walls
I agree with most of the comments though, the Council should stop poncing about thinking of hair-brained schemes and concentrate on education, repairing roads and making them safer, fighting crime and making people's general day to day living easier! Next thing we'll know they'll be another council 'suggestion' to build our own Angel of the South in the middle of Hoglands Park so we can reconnect with the North.... hang on that's not a bad idea ;)
southy
says...
4:33pm Sun 26 Jul 09
freemantlegirl2 wrote:the way to get things done, it to return the power back to councils to do there own work, and not to contractors, remember back pre-80's, the roads and pavements in southampton use to get relaid or resurfaced every 5 years, when was the last time you see this happen, i not seen kendle ave resurfaces or relaided since 1978, contractors will not do this job they only patch patch repair, all they are interested in is profits the bigger the better. a soclist party is the only ones that are willing to give councils back that power to do there own repairs.
southy wrote:ah right it's that easy then!! (certain party in power and we get our roads repaired)
Saints Mike wrote:get a socialist party in power and they will be repaired.
southy wrote:Fix the roads fist
rebuild the city walls
I agree with most of the comments though, the Council should stop poncing about thinking of hair-brained schemes and concentrate on education, repairing roads and making them safer, fighting crime and making people's general day to day living easier! Next thing we'll know they'll be another council 'suggestion' to build our own Angel of the South in the middle of Hoglands Park so we can reconnect with the North.... hang on that's not a bad idea ;)
MrGMan
says...
4:54pm Sun 26 Jul 09
chunkybutt
says...
4:56pm Sun 26 Jul 09
THE MISSING LINK!!!!!!!
joenice
says...
4:56pm Sun 26 Jul 09
Pam W
says...
5:41pm Sun 26 Jul 09
S Pance
says...
9:40pm Sun 26 Jul 09
mAKES SENSE TO ME!
IOwnTheLetterO
says...
10:37am Mon 27 Jul 09
S Pance wrote:It did North Haverbrook and Ogdenville good didn't it.
cAN'T THEY LINK THE WALLS TO THE bARGATE WITH A MONORIAL? mAKES SENSE TO ME!
B. L.
says...
2:09pm Tue 28 Jul 09
southy wrote:Southy you do amaze me at times, well a lot of the time to be honest. Why does every article have to end up being a political platform for you. When your Utopian mob are in power you could always rename your place USSR - Union of Southy Socialist Republic, throw in a few dozen v*rgins and a river of honey and that should keep a few more of the outer fringe happy !! :)
Saints Mike wrote:get a socialist party in power and they will be repaired.
southy wrote:Fix the roads fist
rebuild the city walls
B. L.
says...
2:14pm Tue 28 Jul 09
southy wrote:Southy you do amaze me at times, well a lot of the time to be honest. Why does every article have to end up being a political platform for you. When your Utopian mob are in power you could always rename your place USSR - Union of Southy Socialist Republic, throw in a few dozen v*rgins and a river of honey and that should keep a few more of the outer fringe happy !! :)
Saints Mike wrote:get a socialist party in power and they will be repaired.
southy wrote:Fix the roads fist
rebuild the city walls
Swalk says...
9:51am Sun 26 Jul 09