How Southampton has Changed 1981 to 2023. Bargate and Holyrood ruined church

In 1981 I took pictures of the Bargate and the ruins of Holyrood Church in Southampton. I have come back in 2023 to see what has changed!

As well as the changes I will also look at some history and context - it is quite fascinating!

I hope you enjoy, please stay to the end for all the detail.

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This is Southampton, in the south of England and the Bargate is located here in the centre of the city

This is the Mediaeval Bargate in 1981 and this is it in 2023 from roughly the same angle. The Bargate is pretty much unchanged but everything around it has!

The Bargate was part of Southampton's defences. First built around 1180, that was in the reign of Henry II who was the father of Richard I and his brother John of Robin Hood fame.

The Bargate was the main gate in and out of the town and formed part of the city walls, as we can see here quite a lot of those walls remain.

Includes:
Burtons
Co-op
Abbey National building society
Burnley building society
Britannia building society
Titanic Memorial
Southampton Town Walls
Merchant Navy


Ford Capri
Ford Escort



References
Historic England
Southampton information boards