Southampton's monuments preserved 'for future generations'

Southampton Bargate is one of the city's most famous monuments

Southampton's monuments are being preserved for "current and future generations to enjoy", the city council has said.

It is investing more than £6m in its heritage assets repair programme, which is entering its second phase.

The scheme secured funding in 2021 and work started two years later.

It will involve work in 30 different locations across the city including major work on the roof and stonework of Southampton Bargate.

Holyrood Church, Castle Hall, Castle Vault, Tower Wall, Canute's Palace, Watergate, Round Tower on Town Walls and Conduit House in Commercial Road are also included in the second phase.

The first phase of the programme was completed at the end of 2023 and Paye Stonework & Restoration Ltd has been appointed as contractors to carry out the next phase of the project.

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Councillor Lorna Fielker, leader of Southampton City Council, said: "We have so many buildings and monuments that have shaped our city for hundreds of years and play an important part in telling our story.

"As part of the heritage assets repair programme we are improving public access to, and enjoyment of, these important heritage assets, and it is part of our desire to improve everyone's understanding of Southampton's important place in history over many centuries."

Matt Kember, from Paye Stonework and Restoration, added: "We have decades of experience working on some of the most iconic heritage sites, buildings and monuments in the UK, and we are honoured to bring that experience once again to Southampton."

A council spokesperson said the authority had a duty under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to maintain and provide public access to monuments in its care.

They added: "It places a responsibility on owners of such assets to ensure they are maintained and safe.

"Thirty-seven of the 41 nationally important Scheduled Monuments in Southampton are owned and cared for by the council, therefore the council has considerable responsibility to care for and protect the monuments."

Work will start this spring and is expected to be completed in late autumn.

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