Old views of Southampton from years gone by - do you remember them?

Some of the changes have been through development to accommodate growth or because of needed renovation. Others have come from events such as the Blitz.

Either way, the changes have come thick and fast and there have been so many we often forget about them.

These are some of the views of Southampton we'll never get to see again – for better or worse.

Solent Flour Mills

A familiar landmark on the Southampton skyline for more than 86 years, the mills were completed in October 1934, heralding the beginning of a new commercial life for Southampton Docks.

It was the first building constructed on 200 acres of reclaimed land, set aside by Southampton Railways for industrial development that was to establish Southampton as a major centre of industry and commerce.

The construction of the mill was due to the drive and business acumen of Joseph Rank – the founder of Rank Hovis McDougall.

In the early 1930s he proposed building a mill at Southampton, which was met with short shrift by his co-directors who did not think it necessary. Unperturbed he defiantly said to his colleagues “Very Well, I’ll do it on my own” and, losing no time, he secured a site on the Southern Railway New Docks estate and set about building the most modern flour mill in the country.

Demolition work began in 2020.

Manchester Street

Some of us will remember Southampton’s Manchester Street and the shops, houses and pubs that once made up the vibrant street.

But it is now all just memories as the once busy area was swept away to make way for a multi-storey car park and the Mall Marlands shopping centre.

Skirting the old Hants and Dorset bus station, Manchester Street, like nearby Windsor Terrace, was full of small businesses and was always bustling with activity.

The bus station thronged with passengers during the morning and evening rush hours.

There was a shoe repairer, a dry cleaner, a bank, a watchmaker and engraver, and in another basement premises was the locally renowned barber Percy Horn.

Manchester Street, with its terraced homes, stretched down towards Western Esplanade, while the other end came out in Above Bar next door to the one time gents’ outfitters, Dunns.

At 23 Manchester Street – now lost under tons of concrete of the new development – stood the Exeter Hotel and nearby was the Baker’s Arms on the corner with Cliffton Terrace.

Gradually Manchester Street disappeared. First the houses and pubs went during the 1960s and then in 1988 the colonnade of shops went.

All that remains today of the memory of Manchester Street is a replica façade in the Mall Marlands shopping centre.

The Royal Pier

Southampton's former waterfront glory, the Royal Pier is now little more than just a sad collection of burnt-out planking.

Although the distinctive gatehouse has undergone facelifts over the years there is nothing left today to recall the earlier times when it would provide a day out for local residents.

Sotonians would stroll along the pier’s wooden decking or idle away a few hours in one of the shelters during the summer.

A strange pile of boulders once stood not far from the gatehouse turnstiles and were always a favourite stopping off point for youngsters keen to clamber over the large stones.

The boulders stood there for years and were typical of several thousand similar stones dredged up in 1929 from the River Test channel leading to the New Docks, now called the Western Docks.

In 1961 another curio arrived at the pier after decades spent keeping ships safe from going aground on the British coastline.

The optical system of the old Eddystone Lighthouse was given to Southampton when it was replaced with modern equipment.

Lenses, light and revolving gear were dismantled into hundreds of separate parts then shipped from Penzance to Southampton where it was put together again before going on show at the Royal Pier.

The Eddystone Lighthouse took two years to build and started operating in 1824 and was used until the early 1960s.

Southampton Castle

Okay, so there's little doubt that nobody alive will remember this view – but it would have been incredible all the same.

Built shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Southampton Castle once dominated the town.

The impressive structure stood on the western side of the town, overlooking West Bay and the River Test.

Originally a timber motte and bailey structure, it was gradually rebuilt as a stone keep during the 12th century, during which the town was seen as a key fortification of the realm.

The town’s walls were improved but little was done with the castle until the 14th century, when it was repaired after years of neglect and even theft of materials by locals who used the timber, stone and metals in their own buildings.

King James I sold the castle to developers in 1615 and later a windmill was built on the motte and stone from the castle was used to improve the town walls.

In 1808, a gothic mansion was built on the site by the Marquis of Lansdowne incorporating remains of the keep, but despite its sweeping views, was demolished in 1818 and the motte flattened and a new road – Upper Bugle Street – was constructed through the bailey.

In 1962, the Castle House tower block was built on the site of the keep and motte.

Tyrell and Green

Although many of us have fond memories of the shop itself, the building was undoubtedly ugly.

For more than a century when people thought of shopping in Southampton they instantly conjured up pictures of Tyrrell and Green in their head.

The Above Bar shop began life as a drapers in 1898 and captured the hearts and attention of Southampton shoppers up until its closure in 2000.

At the time of opening the company motto was “Good Taste and Good Manners”.

The shop was so successful they moved to bigger premises in Above Bar the following year, quickly becoming considered to many as a high-class shop, renowned for its two commissionaires, page boys and Italian chef.

In 1920 Mr Tyrell decided to part ways, leaving Mr Green and his wife to take on the shop. 12 years after, once the couple had retired, they sold the business to Barkers of Mile End Road.

Just one year later and Mr and Mrs Green had bought back the shop and in 1934 sold it once again - this time to the John Lewis Partnership.

According to reports at the time, all buyers were called together and told it was “more than their lives were worth” to sell goods dearer than their competitors.

This fell in line with the motto John Lewis had adopted in 1925 -  “Never Knowingly Undersold”.

During the Second World War the shop was completely destroyed by enemy action and the store and staff were transferred to Winchester.

In 1956 a new building was officially opened on the same Above Bar site.

The building became synonymous with Southampton in the years that followed, and in the mid-1990s plans emerged for a new store.

This opened in September 2000 in Westquay shopping complex, ditching the name of Tyrrell and Green and instead opting for John Lewis Southampton.

More changes to Southampton to come soon on dailyecho.co.uk . 

Let us know which you would like to see included in the comments below.