Shirley, Hampshire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shirley

The drinking fountain in Shirley's shopping precinct
Coordinates: 50.9218° N 1.4323° W
Unitary authority	Southampton
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode district	SO15
Dial code	023
Police	Hampshire
Fire	Hampshire
Ambulance	South Central
UK Parliament	Southampton Test
European Parliament	South East England
List of places: UK • England

Shirley

Shirley within Greater Southampton

Shirley is a district on the Western side of Southampton, England. Shirley is a mix of the large suburban houses that can be found in "Upper Shirley" and council houses, situated in the more southerly parts of the district. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Shirley is separated from the University by Southampton Common, a large green park-like area which sees many dog-walkers and joggers.

It is part of the Southampton Test constituency, with Alan Whitehead as Member of Parliament.

Amongst other creative endeavours, Shirley is home to the collectively-owned Sotones Records label, which releases music by artists from the area on a not-for-profit basis.

Shirley is also home to several schools including Bellemoor School and the 450 year-old grammar/secondary school, King Edward VI School, which is now also an A-level college. The school was originally housed, between 1554 and 1696 at Winkle Street near to where the Red Funnel ferry docks are today. The school occupied two more sites before the current Kellett Road/Hill Lane site - nearby the Common in Upper Shirley - was purpose-built in 1938. The last decade has seen both substantial investment in new facilities (doubtless helped by contributions from Edward Abraham, an Old Edwardian, or his estate), as well as the move to being a mixed school for the first time in its long history.

[edit] History

Shirley Mill originally stood to the West of the Romsey Road / Winchester Road junction. The mill stream, fed by three ponds, ran into the River Test. Only one of those three mill ponds remains today, surrounded by a recreation ground. In the 19th Century, the village of Shirley was centred around this mill, and an iron works. The iron works was converted into a brewery in 1880 and subsequently into a laundry at the beginning of the 20th Century. The laundry was owned by Royal Mail and used to service the mail ships visiting Southampton.

In 1887 a drinking fountain was constructed to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Originally in Shirley High Street, the fountain has now been incorporated into the shopping precinct.