More AMAZING facts about the local area you may (or may not) know

From risque shows to mysterious deaths - did you know about these occurrences?

1. Demolition of Netley Abbey ruins came to an end when a keystone fell on the owner's head

Horace Walpole wrote that Netley Abbey’s ruins were “in short, not the ruins of Netley, but of Paradise”.

The Abbey was established in 1239 and was seized by Henry VIII in 1536 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Netley Abbey ruins in 1810 painting

The abbey was then used as a country house until around the turn of the eighteenth century.

Sir Berkeley Lucy purchased the house and employed Southampton builder Walter Taylor to set about using some of the stones for other construction work. 

The story goes that his demolition work came to an abrupt end when the keystone from one of the arched windows fell on his head.

Netley Abbey

By the end of the eighteenth century, the ruins had become overgrown with trees and ivy and were consequently used as a popular tourist attraction. 

Jane Austen even visited, as did many other artists, poets and writers - including Walpole.

2. Southampton Civic Centre cost just under £385,000 to build

The rose garden, situated in front of the Civic Centre, may have long since vanished – and the ornamental fountain moved to the other side of the building to stand in front of the library – but the Civic Centre itself remains almost unchanged. 

It was designed by architect Ernest Berry Webber and built during the 1930s for a cost of just under £385,000 - almost £27 million in today's money.

Civic Centre and Havelock Road in the 1930s

The South Wing was opened by the Duke of York on November 8, 1932, and  the West Block was put into use on November 3, 1933,

Although The clock tower had not been part of the West Wing’s original design, it was added in the early 1930s.

Webber, along with then-mayor Sidney Kimber, tied a balloon at the proposed height and made sure it could be seen from various points around the city.

Southampton Civic Centre as it is today

The tower affectionately became known by locals as Kimber’s Chimney.

On February 13, 1937, the East Wing was opened by Lord Derby before the North Wing was opened in 1939.

3. The arrow that killed King William II was made in Eling

Back in the 11th century, there was an arrow-maker, or fletcher, called Cobb who worked in Eling, near Totton.

The arrows he made were said to be the best in the land and he produced a batch of six of which four were given to King Rufus and the other two to Sir Walter Tyrell.

When Rufus was killed by an arrow in the New Forest, Cobb was able to identify it as one of the pair which were presented to Sir Walter but it has never been possible to prove whether he was killed deliberately or by accident.

King William II with an arrow in his chest

Considering Tyrell fled the scene and headed to France, many would consider that a sign of guilt.

Although some would argue where the true location of where in the New Forest William was killed - at The Rufus Stone, near Beaulieu or elsewhere - who pulled the bowstring has always been accepted to be Sir Walter Tyrell himself. That is largely down to the arrow being identified by Cobb.

That said, plenty of theories of another killer have emerged over the years. These include William's brothers Robert and Henry, and even Philip I of France.

4. Southampton's Palace Theatre staged a risque show in 1940

Back in June 1940, Southampton’s Palace Theatre was staging a rather risque show entitled Naughty Girls, which – according to the Daily Echo advert – featured “20 lovely scenes”. 

The advert went on to say: “A cheeky and cheerful review featuring Claudia Loty, the famous Parisian nude.’’

The Palace Theatre

5. Southampton Common was purchased for ten silver marks

Southampton Common can be traced back to medieval times when, in 1228, it was purchased from Nicholas of Shirley for ten silver marks.

The Common was then put to use by householders within the borough to not only gather fuel, clay and wild food, but for grazing their cattle.

Southampton Common Race Course

Because of the rise in population, restrictions were put in place for grazing in the 16th century, allowing commoners to have no more than two animals on the land.

For some time the town’s gallows were situated on the common, with the last public hanging taking place there on July 27, 1785.

The boating lake on Southampton Common

A racecourse was built in 1822 but ceased to be some time after, before being rebuilt in 1860. Races were popular there once more until the final one took place in 1881.

The land was taken over by the military during the First and Second World Wars and used as an army camp for soldiers waiting to embark. The tin huts used by the soldiers were utilised once again after the conflict by residents who had lost their homes during bombing raids on the city.

Families living in the huts after the Second World War.

More than 350 species of flowers, together with 100 different types of birds, have been identified there.