Blue Plaques of Bevois Mount
The first plaque is at 66 Alma Road and commemorates Tommy Lewis, who is also remembered in the name of the Portswood by-pass. Tommy campaigned tirelessly for the working people of Southampton. In 1901 he was elected to the council and he remained there with only a short break until 1961. In 1929, he and Ralph Morley were elected Southampton’s first Labour members of parliament.
The second plaque is at 2 Rigby Road. Eric Meadus was born in this house although his parents later moved to the ‘flower roads’. His painting and drawings show the influence of L.S. Lowry, who he met, and are largely inspired by the Southampton urban landscape.
The third plaque at Clovelly Cottage, 16 Avenue Road, remembers the McFadden brothers, who worked at the Ordnance Survey and were also artists in their own right. Frank and Rowland both exhibited at the Royal Academy. Frank is also known for a series of twelve etchings which illustrate a book called Vestiges of Old Southampton.
The second plaque is at 2 Rigby Road. Eric Meadus was born in this house although his parents later moved to the ‘flower roads’. His painting and drawings show the influence of L.S. Lowry, who he met, and are largely inspired by the Southampton urban landscape.
The third plaque at Clovelly Cottage, 16 Avenue Road, remembers the McFadden brothers, who worked at the Ordnance Survey and were also artists in their own right. Frank and Rowland both exhibited at the Royal Academy. Frank is also known for a series of twelve etchings which illustrate a book called Vestiges of Old Southampton.
The forth plaque for John Arlott is found at 114 Lodge Road. Before becoming a well-known cricket commentator, he was a policeman in Southampton. In fact his first appearances on the BBC were because of his poems rather than his passion for cricket.
The fifth plaque is on a side wall of the gym (88-90 Lodge Road) beside the mural portrait of Anastasia Robinson. The plaque reminds us that Bevois Mount House, where she lived, occupied the plot of land behind the gym. Her husband, the Earl of Peterborough initially rented, and then bought, the land that he named Bevois Mount. He substantially extended an existing farmhouse to create his country house. With the help of his friend, Alexander Pope, he then set to work to landscape his estate so that the gardens were admired far and wide.
The fifth plaque is on a side wall of the gym (88-90 Lodge Road) beside the mural portrait of Anastasia Robinson. The plaque reminds us that Bevois Mount House, where she lived, occupied the plot of land behind the gym. Her husband, the Earl of Peterborough initially rented, and then bought, the land that he named Bevois Mount. He substantially extended an existing farmhouse to create his country house. With the help of his friend, Alexander Pope, he then set to work to landscape his estate so that the gardens were admired far and wide.
It was fitting that we were able to put up the sixth plaque on 14 Avenue Road during Black History Month. Thomas Pinckney, the son of a freed slave was able to live out the last part of his life there after he and his English wife were driven away from the mission school in Canada where they taught, by the prejudice and persecution of the community.
The seventh plaque on the Guide Dog reminds us that this pub was for many years the Valley Inn and explains what inspired the name change in 1984.
The seventh plaque on the Guide Dog reminds us that this pub was for many years the Valley Inn and explains what inspired the name change in 1984.
The eighth plaque at 122 Avenue Road commemorates Benjamin James Thomas (1881–1937) who was a Titanic survivor and had lived at this address. He went from being a steward on the Titanic to a steward on the Pennsylvania Railroad in the USA.
The ninth plaque is almost opposite the eighth at 125 Avenue Road. The Dixon family who lived there for many years had a tragic history. They lost two children in infancy and the two sons who survived into their teens were both killed in WW1. It is also notable that in the street directories which normally only list the head of the household, usually a male, list both Augustus and Rosalie and Rosalie’s profession which was a nurse.
The ninth plaque is almost opposite the eighth at 125 Avenue Road. The Dixon family who lived there for many years had a tragic history. They lost two children in infancy and the two sons who survived into their teens were both killed in WW1. It is also notable that in the street directories which normally only list the head of the household, usually a male, list both Augustus and Rosalie and Rosalie’s profession which was a nurse.
The tenth plaque is on the wall of the Avenue Road corner shop. This opened in 2021 and continues the tradition of selling general groceries which the Co-operative Society shop did on the same spot for 58 years. This is the first plaque to include a photograph as well as text.
The eleventh plaque is on the wall of Dhaba 59. This pub opened in 1871 as the Honest Lawyer and retained that name for many years except for a brief time as The Lime Bar. Again, we have included an early photo of the building.
The eleventh plaque is on the wall of Dhaba 59. This pub opened in 1871 as the Honest Lawyer and retained that name for many years except for a brief time as The Lime Bar. Again, we have included an early photo of the building.