Nicholstown

Nicholstown-Newtown
Nicholstown-Newtown
Nicholstown-Newtown shown within Southampton
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode district SO14
Dialling code 023
Police Hampshire
Fire Hampshire
Ambulance South Central
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament

Nicholstown-Newtown (usually called Nicholstown or Newtown) is a small area to the north-east of Southampton's city centre. To the north is Bevois Valley, to the east Northam and to the west and south is St Mary's. In the north of Newtown is the Mount Pleasant area, which spills over into the north of Northam. Black signs saying "Welcome to Nicholstown-Newtown" demarcate the district on the roads running east from St. Mary's Rd – hence the district is bordered on the west by St. Mary's Road, the south by Six Dials road, and the east by the railway lines.

The area is dominated by the Royal South Hampshire Hospital which was built in 1843–1844.

History

The Church of St Luke was constructed in newtown in 1853 using a gift of land and money by Thomas Chamberlayne.[1][2]

In the 1960s and 1970s, the area was notorious as Southampton's red-light district with high crime rates.[3] Frustrated with the inaction of the city council and police, over 2,000 people marched from Derby Road to the civic centre. Following this "march of neglect", the Queen visited the area and a cash injection of half a million pounds followed.[3] However, by the 21st century, little had changed. In the year 2000 a report highlighted that the urban renewal area encompassing Nicholstown "exhibits both the highest levels of unfitness and disrepair ... in the city"[4] and the area was still very much a red light district in 2004.[5]

Nicholstown today

Newtown Youth Centre (also known as Boyzy) shut its doors on 25 April 2014 to all the community and young people. The last session, running 4–8 pm, allowed the old, young people of the club and community to reminisce all their memories of the club together. During the end of the session, Lead Worker Sukhdev Rathore said an emotional speech to the community about his 20-year experience working with staff at NYC.

Newtown Youth Centre closed due to 'Council Cuts'. The Newtown Youth Centre was situated in Graham Road and attracted over 100 young people in an individual session.

Due to recent news, Newtown Youth Centre will be returning in September 2014 back to the young people however it will now be run by the YMCA not the Southampton City Council.[6]

The area was the subject of a controversial television documentary in 2015, Immigration Street, a sequel to Channel 4's series Benefits Street based in Birmingham.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Church of St Luke". Historic England. Historic England. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Rance, Adrian (1986). Southampton An Illustrated History. Milestone Publications. p. 115. ISBN 0903852950.
  3. 1 2 This is Hampshire: 5 July 2004: Inner-city pride restored Accessed 11 April 2007
  4. ↑ "Inner city homes to get cash boost". Newsquest Media Group. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  5. ↑ Thompson, Kate (6 July 2004). "Life beyond the streets". The Southern Daily Echo. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  6. ↑ Hampshire Police Authority - Crime Prevention Committee - 25 January 2007: Report of the Consultant to the Committee Accessed 11 April 2007
  7. ↑ "Immigration Street: Residents left 'fractured' by show". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
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