Behind the scenes tours Southampton City Archives and Art Gallery

HAT VISIT TO SOUTHAMPTON ARCHIVES AND SOUTHAMPTON CITY ART GALLERY – Thursday 6^th April 2023

Our first visit of the HAT Visits season starts with a day at the Civic Centre in Southampton.  This landmark was started in 1929 and completed in 1939 and designed to bring together all the municipal offices into one location, now it still houses amongst other departments the Southampton Archives, the City Art Gallery, where we are going to have a ‘behind the scenes’ tour and the Sea City Museum celebrating the City’s maritime history but mainly the Titanic, where we will have lunch.  We will begin by meeting in the main hall at the entrance to the Civic Centre at 10.30a.m. to go down in the lift to the Archives to be met by the Archivist Jo Smith.  Jo is going to arrange a mixed display for us of the types of records held here ranging from the charter granted to Southampton by Elizabeth 1 and some of the earliest parish records from the 16thC from St Michael’s Church situated in the original old walled part of the town.  Southampton originated and developed because of  its ideal sheltered position for docks and became over the centuries a major port, provisioning the Mayflower, the embarkation of troops to the Crimean War and of course the Titanic’s last English port of call.  It only became a city in 1964.  There will also be a  display of a  selection of photographs of the extensive damage done to the city during World War 2 as the docks were a primary target due to the docks.  If there is time Jo will also take us into the strong room where some of the more precious treasures are stored and she is also very happy to answer any questions you may have if you have connections to Southampton.

At midday we will move into one of the Learning Rooms in the Sea City Museum for a sandwich and fruit lunch with tea, coffee or soft drinks.  Between 1.00p.m. and 2.00p.m. you are welcome to stay in the Museum or move around to the other side of the Civic Centre to the City Art Gallery to view the current displays, as after our afternoon tour the Gallery will be closed.

At 2.00p.m. we will be met in the foyer of the Art Gallery by Ben the City Conservator will meet us and take us, by lift, down to the Art Gallery Stores where he will tell us the history of the collection following a bequest by Robert Chipperfield, a Pharmacist and how pictures are acquired, stored and if necessary conserved.  He will also explain how it is decided which to put on display and how to know what is in the collection.  Our visit will last for an hour and at 3.00p.m. our visit will end.

There are plenty of toilet facilities in the Civic Centre and access to all areas by lift.  There is some on street parking around the Civic Centre but it is time limited and expensive.  Longer parking is available at the Marlands Centre

Booking ; book either by e mail events@hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk or book by post marked HAT events organiser to  236 Hunts Pond Road Titchfield Hants PO14 4PG. Payment is by Bank Transfer to HAT account sort code 30-99-71 account 00361865 or by cheque to Hampshire Archives Trust, subject line Southampton Archives and Art Gallery tour. Phone number for enquiries 01489 573056