St Denys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Denys |
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 St Denys
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | SO17 |
| Dialling code | 023 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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St Denys is a neighbourhood in Southampton, England. It sits along the River Itchen. The area is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-east of the city centre.
St Denys faces Bitterne Park and its quay across the river. The Cobden Bridge crosses the river here. This bridge is one of five in Southampton. There is also a railway bridge nearby. St Denys is separated from the city centre by other areas like Bevois Valley. A riverside path connects St Denys to industrial areas.
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History of St Denys
The name St Denys comes from a priory built here in the 1100s. A priory is a type of monastery. Not much of the original priory remains today. You can still see an archway from its chapel in some gardens. Another part of the arch is now at the Tudor House Museum in the city centre.
In the past, St Denys was a very small village. It also had farms scattered around. Over many centuries, people built drains and dykes. This helped to improve the land for farming and for people to live on.
Growing in the 1800s
From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, St Denys grew a lot. Many low-rise buildings were built. By 1895, the area had many streets laid out in a grid pattern. This happened before much of the larger area to the west, called Portswood, was built up.
Large laundries used to be a big part of the area's work. They cleaned clothes for the huge ocean liner ships that came to Southampton. This continued until the late 1900s. Some people who lived in St Denys were on the Titanic when it sank in 1912.
During World War II, Southampton was bombed a lot. This was called the Southampton Blitz. St Denys was bombed too because it was close to the railway line. This railway connected London to the docks.
Who Lives in St Denys?
St Denys is home to many different people. You'll find young families who are working. There are also older people and students living here.
Along the river, there is a small group of houseboats. These are boats that people live on. Many of them were once World War II motor torpedo boats. They have been changed into homes.
Cool Places to See
St Denys Church
The church in St Denys was built in 1868. It was designed by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. It is a very old and important building. The church's stained glass windows have been fixed up. Today, the church holds events in its rooms and gardens.
St Denys Primary School
St Denys Primary School is across the street from the church. It was first built a long time ago in the Victorian era. It was made for about 900 students. Today, it is a Foundation school. It teaches up to 210 students. These students are usually between 4 and 11 years old.
Local Businesses
Part of St Denys is next to the Portswood Waste Water Treatment Works. This is a facility that cleans water. It was built on land that used to be salt meadows. It is now owned by Southern Water.
In recent years, some of this land has been turned into industrial units. These are places where different businesses operate. The Empress Road industrial estate is also nearby.
Dyer Bros Boatyard is located near Cobden Bridge. This boatyard has been offering services for boats since 1903. It was there even before the current Cobden Bridge was built.
Getting Around St Denys
Public Transport
St Denys has its own train station. It's a smaller stop on the main railway line. From here, you can travel to places like Portsmouth or Brighton. The area also has many buses that go to Southampton city centre. You can reach the main train station by bus.
Active Travel Zone
St Denys has special parking spots for shared scooters. These are provided by a company called Voi.
Between 2020 and 2023, St Denys got money to make it safer for walking and cycling. This project is called the St Denys Active Travel Zone (ATZ). It helps people to travel actively, meaning by walking, cycling, or scooting.
Fun Things to Do
The All Aboard Festival is a local event that started in 2019. It happens every year. The festival shows off local music and art. Some performances even take place on boats on the River Itchen!
Being close to the river means it's easy to do water sports. Many people enjoy sailing and paddle boarding here. The St Denys Boat Club was started in 1889. They used to use Dyer Bros. Boatyard. Now, they have their own place near Cobden Bridge. You can also launch boats from a public area south of Priory Road when the tide is high.
St Denys has several small parks. The St Denys Community Centre has an outdoor court. You can use it for football or other ball games.
Famous People from St Denys
The singer and songwriter Foxes grew up in St Denys. She went to St Denys Primary School when she was younger.
Images for kids
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St Denys railway station platforms. You can also see homes and gardens in the hilly area nearby.
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The six large arches of Cobden Bridge. The sky reflects in the water of the Itchen estuary.
