NEW railings with a modern welded 'seagull' design will be part of ambitious plans to restore one of Southampton's most historic buildings.

The scheme to replace railings around Holyrood Church's chancel and the Titanic memorial inside was given the official thumbs up yesterday, despite some concerns about its 'overdecorative' look.

The new fencing, designed by one of the country's top craft blacksmiths, features wavy uprights with seagull wings dispersed across the width for the memorial and patterned railings for the outside.

Jack Candy, from the City of Southampton Society, described it as 'gaudy overdecoration' but it has won support from the Merchant Navy Association, in control of the memorial.

Cllr Alec Samuels, on the Planning and Rights of Way Panel, said: "This is a precious place and it's very important to the city. If the Merchant Navy are content, we should be too."

The plans were unanimously approved.

Restoration work will include repairs to the tower and chancel as well as a new lighting scheme to make the church, in the High Street, an eye-catching landmark at night.

Meanwhile, two men who died on the ill-fated liner will be remembered forever on the Southampton map.

Engineering storekeeper Henry Rudd and seaman George Clench have been selected to give their names to two new streets in the city.

Rudd Way and Clench Street will jut off Carpathia Drive, named after the boat which rescued survivors of the Titanic.

Nearby White Star Place, named after the cruise liner owners, will make up the tribute to the tragic liner on the site of the former Deanery, now part of Southampton City College near the city centre.

A meeting to approve the new names heard that many South-ampton workers who boarded the ship in 1912 would have lived near the old Deanery.

Hampshire-born Henry Rudd lived in Chapel Street before boarding the ship aged 23.

George Clench lived in Chantry Road and was 31 when he died in the tragic sinking. His body was never recovered.

Cllr Ken Darke said: "At last we have the chance to recognise local people who worked as engineers or support sailors, rather than the captains."

Are you related to either of the two men? Do you know anyone who is? Contact Claire Moriarty at the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4495.