Queen Victoria’s changing views of Southampton

The Royal Victoria Assembly Rooms opened in 1830. They included a promenade and archery grounds close to the water’s edge.

The new attraction was visited by the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria, aged 11, in October 1830 – her first visit to Southampton.

The rooms survived until 1959 and part of West Quay Shopping Centre now stands on the site.

Her visit in August 1831, also with her mother, included an excursion to the Isle of Wight. This possibly this sparked her love for the Island.

In the town, they stayed at The Star Hotel.

The next visit was to attend the opening of the Royal Pier on July 8, 1833. It was originally named as Royal Victoria Pier, after the Princess.

In August 1843, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert travelled to the pier where the Royal Party transferred to a barge which took them out to the yacht waiting in the harbour.

It was raining hard when they embarked. The loyal members of the Southampton Corporation remembered Raleigh, and spread their robes on the ground for the Queen to walk over.

Victoria and Albert bought Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in October 1845. The Royal family stayed there for lengthy periods each year, often travelling from Southampton.

On 19 May 1856, Victoria attended the laying of the foundation stone of The Royal Victoria Military Hospital in Netley, built at her suggestion.

The railway and pier were used for the Queen's frequent visits to the hospital and she awarded three Victoria Crosses to patients there.

On August 21, 1857, while staying at Osborne House, the Queen and her family went on a sailing trip on board HMS Fairy. A watercolour, showing a view of the Southampton coast, was painted by her during and after the trip.

In 1887, Victoria visited Southampton with her son Prince Albert, as part of the celebrations to mark her Golden Jubilee – the 50th anniversary of her accession on June 20, 1837.

A local newspaper reported: “An immense assemblage had congregated outside the railway station, and her Majesty and the Prince were received with a loud burst of cheers. Throughout the line of route, the streets were decked with flags and banners, and upon entering High Street from Above-Bar, the sight was very splendid.”

Queen Victoria's Jubilee Memorial Drinking Fountain was erected near the Salisbury Arms on Shirley High Street a little later in 1889. It was moved to the opposite side of the street in the 1920s, as its original site was needed for the tram terminus. It was moved again in the 1970s, and now stands in the Shirley Shopping Precinct.

On July 26, 1890, Victoria arrived in the town to open the Empress Dock, the largest dock in the world at the time. It is rumoured that Southampton Corporation sent her a bill for the red carpet laid down for her at the ceremony, and that because of this, she never visited Southampton again!

Several streets were given Victoria’s name. Most have vanished,or experienced name changes.

Victoria Court stood on the west side of French Street, Victoria Terrace was on the north-west side of Duke's Road and was also the name of a terrace in Northam Road.

Victoria Villas was a terrace in Oxford Road and Victoria Brewery was situated on the north side of Commercial Road at Four Posts.

South Front, Beatrice Road and Chatsworth Road were all once named Victoria Road. But the one that kept the name is Victoria Road, running south from Portsmouth Road in Woolston, and then along the coastline to Netley and Netley Hospital, though with a number of more recent breaks and changes of name. It was said to be the route that Victoria took to open the Hospital. The west end is marked by The Victoria Pub in Woolston, and the east end by the Prince Consort Pub in Netley.

Jack Wilson is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .