Northam, Southampton

The Chapel of St. Mary de Graces also known as trinity chapel from which the area of chapel may take its name is first recorded in 1225.{{cite journal |last1=Crawford |first1=O.G.S |date=1949 |title=Trinity Chapel and Fair, Southampton |url=https://www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk/publications/hampshirestudies/digital/1940s/vol15/Cave_pt2.pdf |journal=Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society |volume=17 |pages=45|access-date=12 January 2025}}

In 1549 it was decided that the inhabitants of Northam had no rights of common over Southampton Common.{{cite book |last=Davies |first= J. Silvester |date=1883 |title=A history of Southampton: partly from the MS. of Dr. Speed, in the Southampton Archives |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsoutham00daviuoft/ |publisher=Gilbert & Co |page=49 }} A map of the area from 1560 shows a building on the site of what is now the Old Farmhouse pub. An engraving in the brickwork dates part of the buildings to 1611.{{cite web|title=THE OLD FARM HOUSE PUBLIC HOUSE|url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1302207|website=Historic England|access-date=16 January 2018}} The chapel appears to have ceased to be used as a result of the Dissolution of the monasteries and was certainly no longer being used by 1563 when a man named Thomas Gardiner attempted to purchase it.{{cite journal |last1=Crawford |first1=O.G.S |date=1949 |title=Trinity Chapel and Fair, Southampton |url=https://www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk/publications/hampshirestudies/digital/1940s/vol15/Cave_pt2.pdf |journal=Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society |volume=17 |pages=49|access-date=12 January 2025}}

Northam shipyard was established in 1693 after John Winter purchased the Manor of Northam for that purpose.{{cite book |last=Rance |first=Adrian |date=1986 |title=Southampton An Illustrated History |publisher=Milestone Publications |page=74 |isbn=0903852950 }}{{cite book |last=Rance |first=Adrian B |date=1981 |title=Shipbuilding in Victorian Southampton |publisher=Southampton University Industrial Archaeology Group |page=3 |isbn=0905280024}} Around the same time Chapel Yard was set up close to the site of the modern Itchen bridge.{{cite book |last1=Arnott |first1=Alastair |last2=Wragg |first2=Rachel |title=Images of Southampton |publisher=Breedon Books |publication-place=Derby |date=1994 |isbn=1-873626-59-2|page=130}}

In 1781 a factory in Chapel making biscuit tins became the first in Southampton to have a steam engine. The Northam branch of the Salisbury and Southampton Canal was built in the area in the 1790s.{{cite book | last=Birbeck | first=Vaughan | title=The Origins of Mid-Saxon Southampton Excavations at the Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium 1998–2000 | publisher=Wessex Archaeology | pages=187–189 | date=2005 | isbn=1-874350-40-X}} It was abandoned in the following decade.{{cite journal |last1=Course |first1=Edwin |date=1976 |title=Southampton Canal Tunnel |url=https://www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk/publications/hampshirestudies/digital/1970s/vol33/Course.pdf |journal=Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society |volume=33 |pages=73–78 |access-date=5 May 2024}}

The first Northam Road Bridge was built in 1796.{{cite web |url=http://www.itchenbridge.co.uk/history/index.html |title=Itchen Bridge :: History of the Bridge and its Locality |access-date=2006-12-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314052553/http://www.itchenbridge.co.uk/history/index.html |archive-date=14 March 2007 }} The original bridge was made of wood.{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/southampton.html|title=A History of Southampton|access-date=13 October 2014}} In the first decade of the 19th century the Chapel shipyard was replaced with wharves. During Victorian times, much of Southampton's industry was based around the banks of the Itchen

From 1840 Northam was home to the Northam iron works owned (along with Millbrook foundry) by Summers and Day.{{cite web |url=http://www.freewebs.com/graham7760/southamptonhistory.htm |title=J&G; Maritime History Society | |access-date=2006-12-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503180401/http://www.freewebs.com/graham7760/southamptonhistory.htm |archive-date=3 May 2006 }} The first ship was launched from the yard 14 October 1840. Named Pride of the waters (later Ruby) the ship was noted at the time to be the first ship to be constructed from iron in the various shipyards of the river Itchen.{{cite book |last=Rance |first=Adrian B |date=1981 |title=Shipbuilding in Victorian Southampton |publisher=Southampton University Industrial Archaeology Group |page=13 |isbn=0905280024}} Shortly afterwards (by 1842) John Rubie opened a third shipyard just downstream of the Summers and Day yard.{{cite book |last=Rance |first=Adrian B |date=1981 |title=Shipbuilding in Victorian Southampton |publisher=Southampton University Industrial Archaeology Group |pages=16/17 |isbn=0905280024}} Around the same time more housing started to be built in the area to house the workers employed by the newly expanded Southampton docks.{{cite book |last=Jemima |first=Sheila |date=1991 |title=Chapel and Northam An Oral History of Southampton's Dockland Communities 1900-1945 |publisher=Southampton City Council|pages=10–11 |isbn=1872649033 }}

In 1888 Northam Primary School was built on Peel road to a design by Edwin Howell.{{Cite web |url=https://www.southampton.gov.uk/media/dyvibtd4/local-list-with-descriptions_tcm63-367456.pdf |title=Historic Environment Record Locally listed buildings in Southampton – the Local List |date=3 March 2016 |website=southampton.gov.uk |publisher=Southampton City Council |page=11 |access-date=18 November 2024}}

Steamship companies (such as the White Star Line and the Cunard Line) were major employers in the district in the early 20th century. Over 350 Northam residents died aboard {{RMS|Titanic}} when it foundered off the coast of Newfoundland in 1912; 125 students at one school alone were orphaned.Titanic Voices by Donald Hyslop et al. Published by Southampton City Council, 1994.

In the early to mid 20th century the road bridge was rebuilt and strengthened, reopening in 1954.{{cite web |url=http://www.southampton.gov.uk/transport/roads/itchenbridge/historyoftheitchenbridge.asp |title=History of the Itchen Bridge |access-date=2006-12-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927020126/http://www.southampton.gov.uk/transport/roads/itchenbridge/historyoftheitchenbridge.asp |archive-date=27 September 2007 }} In 1957 Southampton city council began the construction of a housing estate that including the 16 floor Millbank House tower. The tower was opened 1 November 1960 by the Mayor of Southampton and was re-clad in 1988 in aluminium.{{cite book |last=Douch |first=Robert |date=1968 |title=Monuments and memorials in Southampton (Southampton papers, no.6) |publisher=City of Southampton |page=11 }} At the same time the balconies were enclosed.{{cite journal |last1=Barclay |first1=M |last2=Mason |first2=M |date=May 1994 |title=The overcladding of Millbank House, Southampton |url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/istbu.1994.26323 |journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Structures and Buildings |volume=104 |issue=2 |pages=125–134 |doi=10.1680/istbu.1994.26323 |access-date=20 March 2021}} Construction of the wider estate finished in 1965.{{cite book |last1=O’Brien |first1=Charles|last2=Bailey |first2=Bruce|last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |last4=Lloyd |first4=David W. |date=2018 |title=The Buildings of England Hampshire: South |publisher=Yale University Press |pages=659–660 |isbn=9780300225037}}

In 1965, further work was undertaken on the A3024, the dual carriageway which runs through Northam, to coincide with the opening of the M27 motorway.

Northam Primary School closed in July 2000.{{cite news |date=26 July 2000 |title=Final bell tolls at popular primary |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5627727.final-bell-tolls-at-popular-primary/ |work=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=16 December 2024}}

The London & Southampton Railway reached Northam in 1839.{{cite book |last=Drummond |first=Ian |date=2011 |title=Southern Rails Around Southampton: Including the Fawley Branch |publisher=Holne Publishing |page=14 |isbn=9780956331724}} For few months the line terminated at a temporary station at Northam until the Southampton Terminus station was completed.

In order to continue to Southampton Terminus railway station the line had to cross Northam road. Originally a level crossing was constructed but after a dispute with the Northam bridge company the railway agreed to build a bridge to carry the road over the railway. Construction of the bridge in brick began some time before 1840. In 1858 new junction was added connecting the line to what is now Southampton Central railway station. This required the extension of the bridge which was done by added a cast iron section{{cite journal |last1=Moy |first1=S. S. J |last2=Tedstone |first2=N. M |date=February 1998 |title=Northam Railway Bridge: an unusual bridge in Southampton |url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/itran.1998.30089 |journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Transport |volume=129 |issue=1 |pages=20–27 |doi=10.1680/itran.1998.30089 |access-date=22 March 2021|url-access=subscription }} The junction was altered in 1902 to reduce the sharpness of the curve which had previously limited trains to 7MPH. The sharpness of the curve was further reduced in 1980 when the number of lines down to Southampton Docks was reduced from two to one.{{cite book |last=Drummond |first=Ian |date=2011 |title=Southern Rails Around Southampton: Including the Fawley Branch |publisher=Holne Publishing |page=40 |isbn=9780956331724}}

The first part of the Northam Quay tramway was built around the start of the 1840s. The first line connected Northam Quay to the site of the coke overns. Over the following decades the tramway was connected to other industrial sites in the area as well as the mainline railway.{{cite book |last=Marden |first=Dave |date=2009 |title=A Further Look at Southampton's Quayside Railways |publisher=Kestrel Railway books |page=137 |isbn=9781905505128}}

The area regained a railway station when Northam railway station was opened on 1 December 1872.{{cite book |last=Drummond |first=Ian |date=2011 |title=Southern Rails Around Southampton: Including the Fawley Branch |publisher=Holne Publishing |page=38 |isbn=9780956331724}}

The London & South Western Railway opened a large motive power depot at Northam in 1840, which remained the principal locomotive servicing facility in the area until 1903 when it was replaced by a new depot at Eastleigh. The area previously occupied by the shed then became a goods yard.

Work to replace the bridges that took Northam road over the railway began in 1907 and the new bridge opened in 1908. The New bridge was of steel construction supported by girder lattices

Northam station closed on 3 September 1966 and was demolished by the end of the decade. Northam Quay tramway closed in 1984.

In 2001, South West Trains chose Northam as the location for the maintenance facility for its new Siemens Desiro fleet of trains on the site of the former goods yard. The Northam Carriage Servicing Depot was constructed by Turner & Townsend and opened in 2003.Siemen's Southampton smart depot is completed and ready for new Desiro units Rail issue 466 23 July 2003 page 75

File:City of Southampton - Church of St Augustine - 20190904074146.jpg

A church was built on Graham Street in 1854 with £400 of funding from Thomas Chamberlayne. It was demolished in the 1880s.{{cite book |last=Jemima |first=Sheila |date=1991 |title=Chapel and Northam An Oral History of Southampton's Dockland Communities 1900-1945 |publisher=Southampton City Council|page=13 |isbn=1872649033 }}

The Augustine Centre was originally a Church of England church, and subsequently home to Northam Pentecostal Church. The church was built as St Augustine between 1881 and 1884 to a design by Henry Woodyer.{{cite book |last1=O’Brien |first1=Charles|last2=Bailey |first2=Bruce|last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |last4=Lloyd |first4=David W. |date=2018 |title=The Buildings of England Hampshire: South |publisher=Yale University Press |page=610 |isbn=9780300225037}} It was purchased by Riverside Family Church in the early 1980s and given its new name.[http://www.riversidefamilychurch.net]{{dead link|date=February 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} The building is a Grade II listed building.[http://www.southampton.gov.uk/Images/Listed%20Buildings%20in%20Southampton%20-%20List_tcm46-161808.pdf Southampton City Council: Listed buildings in Southampton] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207215438/http://www.southampton.gov.uk/Images/Listed%20Buildings%20in%20Southampton%20-%20List_tcm46-161808.pdf |date=7 February 2012 }} Accessed 13 September 2007.

Northam Primitive Methodist Church was opened in 1874. The church held its first wedding in September 1911 and it expanded to include a Sunday school in the late 1920s.{{cite news |date=26 May 2005 |title=Sundays were the Lord's Day |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5549231.sundays-were-the-lords-day/ |work=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=26 March 2021}} By 2022 the church was no longer in use and proposals were being made to turn it into housing.{{cite news |last=Hatherley |first=Sam |date=6 April 2022 |title=New home plans for Northam Methodist Church in Southampton |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/20046069.new-home-plans-northam-methodist-church-southampton/ |work=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=6 April 2022}}

Northam Congregational Church was built on Belvidere Terrace in the 1850s with space for around 400 people. It was destroyed by bombing during World War 2.{{cite journal |last1=Ottewill |first1=Roger |date=Summer 2009 |title="A Splendid Prospect"? Congregationalism in Edwardian Southampton 1901–1914 |url=https://southamptonlocalhistorycentre.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/lhf-journal-15-summer-2009.pdf |journal=Journal of Southampton Local History Forum |volume=15 |pages=40–64 |access-date=18 November 2024}}

File:Meridian studios Southampton.jpg

Northam was home to Television Centre, Southampton, run by ITV franchises Meridian Broadcasting, TVS (Television South) and Southern Television, before Meridian moved their operations to Whiteley. As well as the regional news magazine programme Meridian Tonight, the studios were originally home to the very first series of the popular game show Catchphrase (before it moved to Maidstone Studios) and handled transmission of Meridian, Anglia and HTV West, as well as Saturday morning children's programmes like The Saturday Banana. The first attempt to redevelop the site failed in 2009 when the developer went into administration. In 2014, Inland Homes announced plans to develop the site as a residential area.{{cite news |last=Franklin |first=James |date=24 July 2014 |title=Plans revealed for £40m development on former Meridian TV site in Northam area of Southampton |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11361010.plans-revealed-for-40m-development-on-former-meridian-tv-site-in-northam-area-of-southampton/ |work=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=28 March 2021}} Building work started in 2016 and by late 2023 Inland Homes had completed two blocks of apartments and begun a third before entering administration on 17 October.{{cite news |last=George |first=Maya |date=24 November 2023 |title=What is happening to Meridian Waterside site in Southampton? |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23947376.happening-meridian-waterside-site-southampton/ |work=Southern Daily Echo |access-date=9 February 2024}}

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