Once a serene sanctuary amidst the urban clamour of Southampton, the Rose Garden stood as a testament to the city's horticultural aspirations.

Nestled between the bustling Hants and Dorset bus station and the imposing Civic Centre, this verdant oasis offered a stark contrast to the industrial surroundings.

The garden was meticulously planned and constructed in the 1930s.

Local companies, AE Jukes and Son and WH Rogers and Son, worked diligently to create a botanical masterpiece. 

The garden's centrepiece, a magnificent fountain, was a focal point of attraction, its water cascading gracefully into a basin that held an impressive 3,300 gallons. 

Surrounding the fountain were 22 rose beds, each filled with 1,700 vibrant blooms, and 16 carefully selected specimen trees.

The garden's opening in 1934 was a joyous occasion, celebrated by the local community.

 The Daily Echo reported that the Rose Garden quickly became a beloved destination, attracting hundreds of visitors each day. Its beauty and tranquillity provided a much-needed escape from the city's hectic pace.

"The Fountain Gardens were quite a magnet with hundreds of shoppers going out of their way to stroll around it. Opinions varied but most thought it a lovely spot."

However, the garden's idyllic existence was not to last. 

The Second World War brought about its closure, and subsequent austerity measures delayed its reopening. 

The fountain, though still in perfect working order, remained out of use due to electricity shortages.

In 1976 the Rose Garden suffered terrible damage when thousands of people spilled out onto the streets. It was when the Saints rode in triumph on a double-decker bus to celebrate their memorable victory the previous day in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.

The city's Parks Department responded by embarking on a mission to restore the garden's former glory.

 A new species of rose, aptly named Wembley Stadium, was selected to commemorate the historic win.

Despite these setbacks, the Rose Garden continued to thrive. 

However, its days were numbered when, in 1987, a new road scheme necessitated the removal of the garden. 

While the fountain was carefully dismantled and relocated to the city's art gallery, the beloved Rose Garden was lost forever. 

Its memory, however, lives on, a reminder of Southampton's once-serene oasis.

In 1978, Southampton's Rose Garden fountain made headlines for an unusual reason. 

A group of young men burst into the local newspaper office, claiming to have witnessed a shark swimming in the fountain's basin.

According to the Echo reports of the time, it was a fairly quiet Saturday lunchtime on the Echo Newsdesk when all of a sudden three young men rushed into the front office, disclaiming: "There's a Shark in the fountain at the Rose Gardens!"

The creature was about four and a half feet long and on closer inspection was believed to have been a trope.

The news of the shark sent ripples of excitement and disbelief through the city. 

How such a large aquatic animal could have found its way into a fountain in the heart of Southampton remained a perplexing mystery.

It was later revealed that the shark sighting was a clever hoax, a prank designed to entertain and intrigue the local community.