Southampton Common huts and the people that lived in them

These huts became a hub for servicemen during that period and served as their temporary home away from home.

Squatters later used them up until the last one was pulled down on January 30, 1953.

For three years prior to that date, the local governing body had implemented a project to relocate the occupants of the shacks and then demolish them.

This initiative was undertaken with the intent of providing more suitable living arrangements for those residing there.

The plan saw 204 families removed and rehoused.

Ann Gosling and her two schoolboy sons were the last to leave, moving off to their new home in Maybush as the last one was torn down.

Squatters using the huts after the Second World War. (Image: Echo)

In order to bring back what arean once was, there needed to be a plan of action from those in authority.

And so, it was promised that compensation would be sought from Ministry of Housing and this money would be used to refurbish the east side of Southampton Common.

Ann Gosling packing up her belonging in the last remaining on Southampton Common. (Image: Echo)

Though the huts were mainly associated with the Second World War, there were many in use during the First World War too.

Countries such as Britain, America, Canada, Poland, France, Holland and Czechoslovakia all had servicemen stationed at this location.

At one time, the Avenue was surrounded by a barbed-wire fence, and along its length could be seen men wearing distinctive patches - these were the inmates of one of the largest Prisoner of War camps in the entire southern region.

The last hut on Southampton Common being dismantled. (Image: Echo)

The removal of the last hut saw the last visible remnant of the armies and families which lived in hard times. All that was left were the scars of torn grass, brick rubble and rubbish-filled drainage trenches.