When the post-war redevelopment came the area emerged as a rather anonymous part of Southampton compared to the riches that once stood there in past times.

London Road is part of what is probably the oldest route through the city, from the High Street to the Common and Bassett.

Up until the 1890s, many Southampton residents thought of the lower end of the Avenue, where it joins London Road, as the start of open countryside.

Way back in the early part of the last century the highway from the Bargate up to the Avenue was the reponsibility of the Southampton-Winchester Turnpike Trust, and at times it was so dusty the road had to be watered between March and September.

To make sure there was always plenty of water on hand two casteiron pumps were installed and, for many years, one of these stood at the corner of Cumberland Place and London Road with its spout facing the busy street.

These days it has been moved and placed not too far away in the nearby, more peaceful, setting of Watts Park.

At the turn of the century the area was thriving and included many fine buildings from the cen-tral library to the art gallery, which was later moved to become part of the Civic Centre.

At the entrance to the Avenue was the Government Ordnanace Survey Office, formerly the Military Asylum for Orphans. Opposite was Asylum Green, site of the old Padwell Cross pond. A health inspector's report in 1850 spoke of this pond being used as a dumping ground for unwanted cats, dogs and, more darkly, human bodies.

Another landmark was St Paul's Church, built as a chapel in 1828 to ease the pressure on All Saints. The church was destroyed in an air raid in 1940.

In 1904 one John Wickham took over the shop at 39 London Road, previously occupied by grocer Frank Brecknell, and for the next ten years traded there as "furnishing draper, blind maker and bed-ding manufacturer'' with a needle-work department.

According to the record books of the time, next door, at number 37, was Vinton's Cycle Company which was soon to make way for the Maypole Dairy. At number 41, John R Dodd traded as a "paper-hanging merchant.''

London Road was also home, at one time, for what was claimed to be Southampton's "cosiest'' cine-ma, the Carlton, which once stood at number 45.

It showed films up to the early 1920s, offered afternoon teas, featured music from an organist and pianist and was a favourite spot for children for Saturday morning shows.

London Road was once a thriving shopping area, much like Shirley and Portswood still are, and according to a street directory just before the beginning of the Second World War, it was an area with plenty to offer.

The Pilgrims' Tea Rooms, David Greig, the provisions store, Mary Wren, who sold gowns, coats and sportswear, the millinery shop of Miss Frances Legg and William Tickle, coal merchant, were all based in London Road.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.