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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 3h

Bon Scott’s final performance with AC/DC before his death was at the Gaumont in 1980. In 1987 the venue was rebranded as the Mayflower Theatre and it continues to host a wide range of shows to this day, including many top touring West End productions.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 3h

Some acts that played there include, in no particular order, the Beatles, Supremes, Queen, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, KISS, Gary Numan, Elton John, The Who, Kate Bush, Madness, Thin Lizzy, Tina Turner, and the late great Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 3h

Within a few years of its opening it had hosted important civic functions and it also began showing films on a screen that could be raised and lowered on the stage. Its name changed to the Gaumont in 1950 and it continued to show films as well as host live music.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 3h

When the Mayflower Theatre opened as the Empire Theatre on 22 December 1928 it was described as ‘the finest in the South’. It’s still the largest on the South Coast today and remains a wonderful theatre.

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The Empire Theatre when it was still quite new.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 2d

Above Bar Street and the Bargate in the late nineteenth century, photographed by Thomas Hibberd James.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 4d

This photograph of the Titanic Engineers’ Memorial was taken soon after it was unveiled in April 1914, two years after the sinking. If you look closely you can see a White Star Line flag at the centre of the huge wreath that has been placed on the memorial.

The memorial with the wreath at the centre.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 6d

Once his restoration was complete, he donated the building to the council as a museum and it opened as Tudor House and Garden in 1912.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 6d

The building was at risk of demolition as part of a widespread slum clearance around this area in the late nineteenth century but it was saved by a local councillor named William Spranger, who removed the stucco facade and tried to return the house to its original Tudor style.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 6d

My great x3 grandfather, William Henry Crocker Masters, worked here for Pope in the 1870s. I only know this because in 1875 he appeared in court as a witness to a late-night brawl outside a nearby pub in which some American sailors from a US Navy vessel stabbed a local man!

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 6d

The building we know as Tudor House was originally built between 1491 and 1518, incorporating an older banqueting hall from around a century earlier. Pictured here before its restoration when it was occupied by George Cawte, a bookbinder, and George Pope, a dyer.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

Looking south down Southampton High Street, early 1900s and 2025.

Early 1900s hand-coloured postcard view of the High Street.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

I’ve not been asked by anyone to write this; I just wanted to raise awareness because it’s a great pub.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

I always recommend the Platform to people and the owner has set up a crowdfunder with more information and the option to donate to help the pub: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/platformta...

There are also two benefit gigs this week, info here: www.platformtavern.com

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

Like many other pubs right now, it is struggling. There was a fire back in 2023 and the pub had to close for three months, leaving a backlog in mortgage payments, and there’s now a risk that the pub may be repossessed by the bank.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

The Platform Tavern is one of my favourite pubs in Southampton. It’s a fantastic place, warm and welcoming. The atmosphere is always lovely and they do a great Sunday roast. It’s an important part of the local music scene too.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

The pub has a lot of history, but its future is in doubt.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

Irishman James McGrady was staying at the pub when he signed on to join Titanic’s crew as a first class saloon steward in 1912. He did not survive the sinking and his was the last body to be recovered.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 7d

The wonderful Platform Tavern dates back to at least 1871 but unfortunately its future is uncertain. The building incorporates some of the southern stretch of Southampton’s medieval walls. The inquest into the death of my great x4 grandfather was held here in 1888.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 8d

The Bargate, early 1900s.

Photograph of the south face of the Bargate.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 9d

Titanic’s five postal clerks can be found at their homes or lodgings on my interactive Titanic Crew Map: historicsouthampton.co.uk/crew/

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Interactive Map: Titanic Crew – Historic Southampton

historicsouthampton.co.uk

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 9d

The five men worked tirelessly to haul bags of mail up to higher decks as the mail room flooded during the sinking. None of them survived.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 9d

This memorial tablet inside Southampton Civic Centre remembers Titanic’s five postal clerks. It was cast in bronze taken from one of Titanic’s reserve propellor blades. The memorial remembers Woody and his colleagues, John R. Jago Smith, James Williamson, William Gwynn, and John S. March.

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The memorial tablet. “STEADFAST IN PERIL”

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 9d

He should have been celebrating his birthday on 15 April but tragically perished in the disaster in the early hours of that morning.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 9d

This pub on the corner of Bernard Street and Terminus Terrace was known as Day’s Hotel in the 1850s. By the 1880s it had become Parker’s Hotel. In 1912, Oscar Scott Woody from North Carolina was staying at the hotel when he joined Titanic’s crew as a postal clerk.

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Historic Southampton @historicalsoton.bsky.social · 12d

Southampton High Street with the Bargate in the distance and the Star Hotel on the right.

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