New Southampton book A Walk Up the Avenue

Ally Hayes and Wendy Stokes provide a step by step guide, telling stories as they lead the reader along one of the city's arterial roads.

A Walk up the Avenue reveals all manner of historical and geographical treasures that mostly go unnoticed.

The book takes the reader from the Old Ordnance Survey at the southern end of the Avenue to the site of Court Leet at the northern end, close by the Bassett crossroad.

It is rich in content and each topic has been thoroughly researched. The history and geography are interwoven in such a way that a series of fascinating stories are revealed.

How many of us have heard about Sir James Lemon who lived at the site of what is now No 11 The Avenue?

A Walk up the Avenue

He came to Southampton in 1833 having trained in London as a civil engineer and worked with Sir Joseph Bazalgette who is famous for building the London sewers. Lemon was appointed Borough Surveyor and took on the enormous task of improving Southampton's sewage system. A development for which we are all very grateful, no doubt!

The walk takes us past homes, churches, businesses, monuments and more.

Although primarily a local history book, it can also act as a guidebook if you wish to undertake your own ‘Walk up the Avenue’.

Co-author of A Walk up the Avenue Ally Hayes said: "In the dark days of lockdown, last January, my colleague Wendy and I agreed that we needed a project to get us through it.

"Bevois Mount History offer a variety of guided walks, one of them being ‘A Walk up the Avenue’.

"We were obviously not going to be guiding groups of people for some time to come but there was nothing to stop us writing about it.

"While the Avenue is undoubtedly one of the most photographed roads in the country, there has never been a volume specifically devoted to its history."

The 89-page colour book explores many of the buildings that line the road, including Avenue St Andrews United Reformed Church.

Avenue St Andrews

Volunteers at the church have worked through their archives and found many details of the work undertaken by so many during World War I.

They have found one volume of visitors’ books which was signed by over three thousand soldiers, but unfortunately eleven other books are missing.

There is evidence of the gratitude felt, particularly towards the ladies of the congregation.

In the words of one soldier, after the war had ended: “I came into that hut two years ago, feeling bad … it was bright and warm, there was plenty of good food, and the ladies were like friends and spoke to you as if you were a gentleman”.

Another said: “And what’s more, I met others out there who said just the same about the place. So what I says is, “Gawd bless Avenue Hall and everybody that worked there, and gave new life to us poor chaps.”

The hand drawn maps contained within A Walk up the Avenue show the location of all the sites mentioned and the book works as an ideal companion for those wishing to explore the area.

On the other hand, some may prefer to be transported by the book itself and enjoy an excellent read in the comfort of their own home.

A Walk up the Avenue is available for £12 from October Books or by messaging the authors through Bevois Mount History's Facebook page – facebook.com/bevoismounthistory.