St Mary's, Southampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's |
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 St Mary's Street. Looking North. |
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 St. Mary's
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | SO14 |
| Dialling code | 023 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
St Mary's is a lively part of the city of Southampton in England. It's known for its history and its connection to a famous football club.
This area is split into two main sections by a busy road junction called Six Dials. The northern part of St Mary's is near St Mary's Road and is home to the local fire station.
Most of St Mary's is in the southern part, located east of St Mary Street. This is where you'll find the historic St Mary's Church, which is how the area got its name. The southern section also includes the Golden Grove area and is next to the railway lines on its eastern side. St Mary's gives its name to St Mary's Stadium, the home of Southampton Football Club, even though the stadium itself is actually in the nearby area of Northam.
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A Look Back: St Mary's History
The land where St Mary's now stands has a long and interesting past. A very old Saxon town called Hamwic once existed here. This was a busy settlement many centuries ago.
However, by the 11th century, the area had changed. It became farmland and stayed that way for a long time, right up until the 1700s. After World War II, new homes were built in St Mary's. This included the Golden Grove housing estate, which was built in the 1960s.
St Mary's Church: A Special Place
St Mary's Church is an important place for many Christians living in the St Mary's area. This church has a set of bells that ring on Monday nights. These bells were so inspiring that they led to the writing of a famous song called "The Bells of St. Mary's". This song was later sung by the well-known artist Bing Crosby.
The Birthplace of Southampton Football Club
St Mary's Church is also famous for another reason: it's where Southampton Football Club began! The club was started on November 21, 1885, by members of the St Mary's Church of England Young Men's Association.
When it first started, the club was known as St. Mary's Young Men's Association F.C. (or "St. Mary's Y.M.A." for short). A couple of years later, in 1887–88, they simply became St. Mary's F.C. Then, in 1894, when the club joined the Southern League, they changed their name to Southampton St. Mary's. After winning the Southern League title in the 1896–97 season, the club became a limited company and was officially renamed Southampton F.C., the name we know today.
Culture and Entertainment in St Mary's
St Mary's is a hub for music and community. The area is home to The Joiners on St Mary Street. This is one of Southampton's most famous music venues. Many popular bands have played there, including Oasis, Coldplay, and Muse. In June 2013, a music magazine called NME even named The Joiners "Britain's Best Small Venue."
You can also find two radio stations broadcasting from St Mary's. Voice FM, on 103.9, plays a wide variety of music and shows. Unity 101 is a community radio station that specifically serves the Asian and other ethnic minority communities in the area.
