Capt Smith's house

[Ray Monk]

Hi. This is my first message. I live in Southampton. In particular, I live in Highfield, the part of town where Capt. Smith lived (roughly speaking, Highfield is to Southampton what Hampstead is to London). Every night I walk my dog around here & every night, as I walk down Winn Road, I think of Capt. Smith.

As many of you will know, Capt. Smith's house on Winn Road no longer exists. Where it once stood, there is now a rather ugly block of flats. However, the neighbouring houses still stand and give a good idea of what kind of house Smith lived in (brick built, double-fronted, rather undistinguished, but now worth a fortune - those houses are probably worth about half a million pounds now). My question is this: does anyone know what happened to Smith's house? Was it destroyed in the war or did some greedy householder pull it down to build flats? (The house would be worth about half a million, but a block of flats on the same plot would be worth more like two million).

 

[Inger Sheil]

Hallo Ray, and welcome to the board.

I don't have any specific information on the decision to tear down Smith's house (perhaps someone on the board does - we have a few Soton locals), although I do remember it was the subject of considerable disgruntlement and has been discussed often. Whether this was only among the Titanic community or was more widespread locally, I don't know.

I think you're probably right that the bottom line was simply fiscal. A similar decision was made with Lightoller's house in Twickenham, although in that case there was a concerted effort by the locals to save the house and a campaign against having it torn down, in the end the land was simply too valuable.

 

[Brian J. Ticehurst]

Ray,
From my ''Book Titanic Memorials World-wide - Where They Are Located'' here is the extract from Captains Smiths entry:
''also at the site of his old Southampton residence 'Woodhead' (lter called 'Coultard') Winn Road, Southampton, which was destroyed by German bombs during World War II now stands a block of flats called Cheltenham Court, Winn Road, and in the main entrance is a framed picture of the Titanic with the caption 'Cheltenham Court stands on the site of the house once occupied by Commander Edward John Smith who was the captain of the Titanic and went down with his ship.'''

I do have a photograph of the house when it was bombed and it looked rather a mess.
If you knock the door of the house and ask to see the picture I am sure the Matron will obliged you.
Best regards

Brian J. Ticehurst - Southampton UK.

 

[Inger Sheil]

Thanks for that, Brian! I'd heard from someone that the decision to tear it down was comparatively recent, but evidently that was innaccurate.

So it met the same fate as the house James Moody lodged in the East End of London when he was studying for his Master's certification - a direct hit in WWII.

 

[Ray Monk]

Thanks for the welcome and the information, Brian and Inger. I'd like to see the photo of the bombed house. I suppose it was just like those next to it?

Southampton, of course, was very heavily bombed in WWII, but Highfield got off comparatively lightly. If you walk around Highfield now, most of the buildings you see would have been around in 1912, whereas in the city centre most of what you see was built post-1945.

Does anyone know of any other crew members who lived in Highfield?

 

[Ray Monk]

P.S. Brian, where can I get a copy of your book?

 

[Brian J. Ticehurst]

Ray,
Yes indeed, Captains Smiths house was almost identical to the other 'Mansions' that are now left in Winn Road.
As to my book - the 22nd reprint is just back from the Printers and lists 1,014 Titanic memorials and graves etc., with 926 people listed inlcluding 96 memorials in Southampton and nine for Captain Smith.
The book is available by Post from me at
£6.25 Sterling, $10 (includes P&P)in Europe and $12 anywhere else in the world - Sterling Cheques, Euros or dollar bills only accepted - no US $ Cheques.
Just send your payment to
Brian J. Ticehurst
1 Mardon Close
Swaythling
Southampton
SO18 2HP
UK
Sorry Phil - blatant advertising I know but Ray did ask and your copy is on the way!
Cheers

Brian

 

[Ray Monk]

Thanks Brian. I'll put a cheque for £6.25 in the post and look forward to getting your book.

By the way, do you know what happened to William Murdoch's house? I walked down Belmont Road today looking for no. 94, but it's not there. The numbering goes: 92, 96A, 98A. Very mysterious.

 

[Ray Monk]

Mystery solved: Murdoch's house is now no. 116.

 

[Rose Gallagher]

I live in the Captains house (Captn Edward John Smith) I live in Marine Crescent, the owners lived down the street in Beach Lawn. I have a cellar that has never been opened as there is a concrete block stopping me from getting in - intrigued?????

 

[Darren Clossin]

If that were my house and there was a concrete bluck preventing me from getting in the cellar, I'd be getting a sledge hammer to it before the sun went down!!

 

[Sweetbriars]

Thanks Brian. I'll put a cheque for £6.25 in the post and look forward to getting your book.

By the way, do you know what happened to William Murdoch's house? I walked down Belmont Road today looking for no. 94, but it's not there. The numbering goes: 92, 96A, 98A. Very mysterious.

Hi. This is my first message. I live in Southampton. In particular, I live in Highfield, the part of town where Capt. Smith lived (roughly speaking, Highfield is to Southampton what Hampstead is to London). Every night I walk my dog around here & every night, as I walk down Winn Road, I think of Capt. Smith.

As many of you will know, Capt. Smith's house on Winn Road no longer exists. Where it once stood, there is now a rather ugly block of flats. However, the neighbouring houses still stand and give a good idea of what kind of house Smith lived in (brick built, double-fronted, rather undistinguished, but now worth a fortune - those houses are probably worth about half a million pounds now). My question is this: does anyone know what happened to Smith's house? Was it destroyed in the war or did some greedy householder pull it down to build flats? (The house would be worth about half a million, but a block of flats on the same plot would be worth more like two million).

Hello Ray ...Just joined the website.My husbands family lived at No 34 Winn Rd from 1911 to 1951.His great great grandfather was Charles Day a member of Day & Summers Shipping Co based at Northam.They were a well know family in Southampton owning Withedwood Park Shirley and Northlands House. WEdo have pics of all houses .Do get in touch if interested!

 

[Sweetbriars]

Hello Ray....I hope this answer gets to you...My families ancestors lived in Cpt John Smiths house from 1912 until 1951,when sadly it was pulled down. We presume it was that house, No 34 Winn Rd or the one next door. Either way they are now flats. We have a picture of the house as it was

 

[Dan E. Parkes]

Hello Ray....I hope this answer gets to you...My families ancestors lived in Cpt John Smiths house from 1912 until 1951,when sadly it was pulled down. We presume it was that house, No 34 Winn Rd or the one next door. Either way they are now flats. We have a picture of the house as it was

That's very interesting! I'd certainly be interested to see the picture of the house as it was.

 

[Dr Tony]

Are there many 'Soton local' members? Perhaps a get-together would be interesting...........