Spring Has Finally Arrived
Karl Halliwell • 26 March 2025
A great time to join one of our tours
Spring has finally arrived and it is an exciting time for us. Temperatures are already beginning to rise and it has been terrific taking people around our wonderful city when the sun has been shining.
The ever popular Overground & Underground walking tour has been running throughout the winter and will continue to run on Saturday’s and Sundays. Local people and visitors to the city are fascinated to discover some of the many interesting secrets that Southampton holds. If you have never had the chance to venture into Southampton’s vaults this tour is definitely one for you.
Our team of guides are also eager to welcome you to our brand new tour designed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. They would love to take you around the area of Southampton where Jane lived so that you can discover what Southampton was like in her time here.
Another anniversary that we will be marking is the tragic sinking of the Titanic. Over 500 members of the crew who lost their lives came from Southampton so that awful event will always be linked to the city.
You can find out more about our tours and book them from here on this website.
by Jake Simpkin
•
8 April 2025
The Stella shipping disaster is sometimes referred to as the Titanic of the Channel Islands. The cross-Channel steamer was travelling at top speed through blanket fog when it struck the Casquets reef with considerable loss of life. The heroic stewardess Mary Ann Rogers gave her own life in the service of saving others. In 1899 the powerful shipping and railway companies resisted regulations in areas of safety and employment. Ships did not carry adequate lifeboats, and the crew had little safeguards. If the Stella inquiry had found the L&SWR directors negligent, the implementation of safety regulations would have impacted on the powerful Atlantic shipping lines. In the event it was the Stella’s Captain who was accorded the blame. Thirteen years later the Southampton & District Pictorial in its Easter edition paid special tribute to the heroism of Mary Ann Rogers by featuring a commemorative picture of the Stella Memorial. Astonishingly, positioned directly underneath is a photograph of one of the Titanic’s enormous funnels, which then dominated the Southampton skyline. Within days the Titanic, traveling at nearly top speed, struck an Atlantic iceberg. There were not enough lifeboats on board, but this time over 1500 passengers and crew perished. As I look at these remarkable photographs I’m captivated by the enigmatic Mary Ann Rogers, who even after death seemed to have the power to send a warning. Unfortunately, it was not heeded, resulting in a disaster many times greater than that of the Stella. Jake Simpkin STGA Guide Learn more about Southampton's rich hsitory by booking one of our tours. Book now