The Alma Road Mural
OUR FIRST MURAL PROJECT was definitely our most difficult: not because of the size of the ‘canvas’ or any technical problems (although these were important considerations). Far more difficult was, firstly, overcoming the fears of local people that we were going to produce some awful, garish piece of graffiti and secondly, producing a design that would please everyone. The finished product appears to have succeeded on both counts and enlivens the north side of Bitter Virtue along Alma Road.
The first panel (moving from right to left) shows the Stag Gates, and in the distance, Bevois Mount House. The Stag Gates were built as the entrance to the house but in reality it would not have been possible to see the house from this point but we felt that artistic licence was allowed. The gates were built in 1854 and demolished in 1919 but the relative brevity of their existence has not prevented them from holding a special place in Southampton memory. In fact many, people came by while we were painting and claimed to have seen them when they were young. The arithmetic says they didn’t.
The second panel is dominated by the 1905 map of Southampton. Although the road layout is very similar, some names have changed and the density of the housing has increased. To the right of the map are some key facts about the area and underneath is the legendary Sir Bevois, guarding the side door to Bitter Virtue.
The third panel is a collection of images that show some facets of the Bevois Mount area. The Titanic represents the many residents who sailed on the fated ship as crew – some of them never to return. Underneath is the Alma Inn which once stood on the opposite corner; one of so many local hostelries that are no longer. The Suffragette reminds us that this area, and Southampton in general, was at the forefront of the battle for women’s suffrage. She is standing under a cherry tree, so many of which have been planted by the local resident’s association. The horse drawn tram recalls these early trams and later the electric trams that were driven through the area. Overlooking everything is Alexander Pope’s quote “This place is beautiful beyond imagination”. It is very hard for us residents of the 21st century to sweep away the buildings, the roads and the wheelie bins – and envisage the wonderful landscaped gardens of Pope’s era.
Visit the mural outside of Bitter Virtue at the junction of Cambridge Road and Alma Road.
Click here for the location map.
The first panel (moving from right to left) shows the Stag Gates, and in the distance, Bevois Mount House. The Stag Gates were built as the entrance to the house but in reality it would not have been possible to see the house from this point but we felt that artistic licence was allowed. The gates were built in 1854 and demolished in 1919 but the relative brevity of their existence has not prevented them from holding a special place in Southampton memory. In fact many, people came by while we were painting and claimed to have seen them when they were young. The arithmetic says they didn’t.
The second panel is dominated by the 1905 map of Southampton. Although the road layout is very similar, some names have changed and the density of the housing has increased. To the right of the map are some key facts about the area and underneath is the legendary Sir Bevois, guarding the side door to Bitter Virtue.
The third panel is a collection of images that show some facets of the Bevois Mount area. The Titanic represents the many residents who sailed on the fated ship as crew – some of them never to return. Underneath is the Alma Inn which once stood on the opposite corner; one of so many local hostelries that are no longer. The Suffragette reminds us that this area, and Southampton in general, was at the forefront of the battle for women’s suffrage. She is standing under a cherry tree, so many of which have been planted by the local resident’s association. The horse drawn tram recalls these early trams and later the electric trams that were driven through the area. Overlooking everything is Alexander Pope’s quote “This place is beautiful beyond imagination”. It is very hard for us residents of the 21st century to sweep away the buildings, the roads and the wheelie bins – and envisage the wonderful landscaped gardens of Pope’s era.
Visit the mural outside of Bitter Virtue at the junction of Cambridge Road and Alma Road.
Click here for the location map.
Jaqui Rayment, Southampton’s first Lord Mayor and Bevois Ward councillor,
standing in front of the mural, May 2023
standing in front of the mural, May 2023