Southampton is a much poorer place for the passing of the Woolston Ferry.
If only we'd kept the Woolston Ferry, Southampton Terminus, the rail lines into the docks, the trams, the old bus station, the western shoreline and more of the walls (esp around the Bargate) Southampton would be a fascinating place to live&work and to visit today...
I live in Aus now, but well remember the ferry. My older brother also cycled into the River Itchen when he was about 18 in 1960, he got up late and thought he could somehow still get on the ferry even though it was already pulling out!! He came home soaking wet, I have never forgotten that!
In the late 1970's I was a barman at the Seaweed Inn at Woolston. I used to cycle there in the evenings from Millbrook via the bridge. One evening after a few too many drinks I cycled down the ramp to the ferry but misjudged it as the ferry was leaving and ended up in the Itchen. Happy memories!
This brings back some interesting memories, because I remember this most from the B-side of a Southampton Football Club single I had sent to me from relatives in Soton not long after we won the FA Cup in '76. My late Dad was born and raised in Sholing Road and brought us to Australia when I was nearly 5 (in 1968) and things like this remind me of him. A part of me will always be a Southampton lad.
As parochial as it gets. Will mean absolutely nothing to anyone who is not local-ish to Southampton. You can see St Mary's Stadium on the map, though...
@MrJohnhepworth7 Very true. Besides the St Mary's stadium (which is not from the same era as the ferry..!) I notice that the old Supermarine building (home of the Supermarine Spitfire) is visible (on the left) in the first colour photo of the ferry.
Great stuff, my old man was a pattern maker and made the mould for the wheels that guided the ferry on the cables, and reminded us of this EVERY time we went across !! Now live on the north coast of Scotland,do I miss Woolston,....no :)
That was excellent,like many others it brought back childhood memories,i remember seeing a lump of poo floating by and my old man telling me it was a brown trout!
Fond memories of a childhood in and around Woolston. Live in Cairns Aust now. To go
further north than here there is a much smaller ferry on two cables crossing the Daintree river the only other I have ever seen. It always reminds me of how we used to ride over and back just for the fun of it.
The song is a wonderful tribute. Thanks for the memories.
Yeah good memories but now vospers is gone the place is a bit dead,empty shops and local business all shut down,wooston school soon to be gone,and the MASSIVE developement on old vospers is gonna create chaos.
Bring back the floating bridge!! it would save me freezing me butt off cycling over the itchen bridge
I'm a Sholing lad and funnily enough as I drove up to the Daintree ferry last year on a visit to Oz, my first thoughts we're of wintry Saturday mornings on vists to town with my mum and brother. I remember sitting in the car getting all excited at the prospect of being at sea, for five minutes or so. Great memories, of Oz and back in the seventies.
Fantastic, I have some really vivid memories of the floating bridge. I live in Yorkshore now so it really takes me home. Thanks for posting. Also, where can I get a copy of that song?
Even before the ferry was built there waw a couple of people that actually rowed people accross the river, and they were my great great grandad and his dad :-)
It wasn`t far from the Woolston Ferry to Supermarines where they built the Schneider seaplanes,When I was an apprentice with Folland Aircraft I worked at Eastleigh Airdrome and there in the back of a hanger, covered in dust, and unwanted was the Blue Schneider seaplane. I used to squeeze into the cockpit and eat my lunch. For 10 shillings a month I learnt to fly the yellow bi-plane at the airport the Tiger Moth with the Gypsy 120 hp engine.
To find it travel from Southampton towards Burseldon,
Go under the Railway bridge and turn immediately right towards Alladins Cave Boat Chandlery. The Elephant Boatyard is there. And The Ferry Restaurant.
I feel so old now! It was a Rite of Passage to go to Town on your own on the Floating Bridge. When it was turned into a nightclub my Hubby was a bouncer there, way before I met him. It seems like another lifetime ...
Southampton is a much poorer place for the passing of the Woolston Ferry.
If only we'd kept the Woolston Ferry, Southampton Terminus, the rail lines into the docks, the trams, the old bus station, the western shoreline and more of the walls (esp around the Bargate) Southampton would be a fascinating place to live&work and to visit today...
TGRWorzel 7 months ago
I live in Aus now, but well remember the ferry. My older brother also cycled into the River Itchen when he was about 18 in 1960, he got up late and thought he could somehow still get on the ferry even though it was already pulling out!! He came home soaking wet, I have never forgotten that!
lynroe1949 8 months ago
In the late 1970's I was a barman at the Seaweed Inn at Woolston. I used to cycle there in the evenings from Millbrook via the bridge. One evening after a few too many drinks I cycled down the ramp to the ferry but misjudged it as the ferry was leaving and ended up in the Itchen. Happy memories!
Framperz 1 year ago
This brings back some interesting memories, because I remember this most from the B-side of a Southampton Football Club single I had sent to me from relatives in Soton not long after we won the FA Cup in '76. My late Dad was born and raised in Sholing Road and brought us to Australia when I was nearly 5 (in 1968) and things like this remind me of him. A part of me will always be a Southampton lad.
adelaidejetboy 1 year ago
As parochial as it gets. Will mean absolutely nothing to anyone who is not local-ish to Southampton. You can see St Mary's Stadium on the map, though...
MrJohnhepworth7 1 year ago
@MrJohnhepworth7 Very true. Besides the St Mary's stadium (which is not from the same era as the ferry..!) I notice that the old Supermarine building (home of the Supermarine Spitfire) is visible (on the left) in the first colour photo of the ferry.
TGRWorzel 7 months ago
And you made it sound like a 78 recording as well. Never heard of Woolston. I lived in the South of England.
HenryFalkner 2 years ago
Great stuff, my old man was a pattern maker and made the mould for the wheels that guided the ferry on the cables, and reminded us of this EVERY time we went across !! Now live on the north coast of Scotland,do I miss Woolston,....no :)
ginrik 2 years ago
bring back the ferry
it will bring back so many memorys 4 ppl
aidendollery 2 years ago
Floaters Nightclub! What a dump!!!
I just about remember going on the floating bridge to Woolston.
That's an odd positioning of Sholing on the music video.
The guy pronounces 'town' and 'around' just like my mum. Cracks me up.
badroo 3 years ago
excellent. ahhh
micmacmoc 3 years ago
...so homesick!!
as
Memories of ferry span different ages...
1) Mum's stories (Woolston girl)
2) my own kid memories, huge adventure with brothers and sisters crossing over to town
3) am i hallucinating or do i really also remember dancing away in some awful disco outfit as teenager??
Anyone else remember ferry as throbbing nightspot?
jane
janestuff 3 years ago
That was excellent,like many others it brought back childhood memories,i remember seeing a lump of poo floating by and my old man telling me it was a brown trout!
sholinghardman1 3 years ago
I prefer the live version by the Guilty Noodles ;-)
whizzkid69 3 years ago
omg wen i went 2 westbrom last week this guy was singin this in the pub in winchester then again in the royal oak in westbrom lol
saintash666 3 years ago
Just came across this and think its brilliant. Brings back many happy memories.
Thanks for taking the time to make it.
100spitfire 3 years ago
The ferry is still going strong as a resturant in Elephant boatyard on the Hamble
OctRonnie1965 4 years ago
Fond memories of a childhood in and around Woolston. Live in Cairns Aust now. To go
further north than here there is a much smaller ferry on two cables crossing the Daintree river the only other I have ever seen. It always reminds me of how we used to ride over and back just for the fun of it.
The song is a wonderful tribute. Thanks for the memories.
spotss00 4 years ago
Yeah good memories but now vospers is gone the place is a bit dead,empty shops and local business all shut down,wooston school soon to be gone,and the MASSIVE developement on old vospers is gonna create chaos.
Bring back the floating bridge!! it would save me freezing me butt off cycling over the itchen bridge
whitewizard34 4 years ago
I'm a Sholing lad and funnily enough as I drove up to the Daintree ferry last year on a visit to Oz, my first thoughts we're of wintry Saturday mornings on vists to town with my mum and brother. I remember sitting in the car getting all excited at the prospect of being at sea, for five minutes or so. Great memories, of Oz and back in the seventies.
brixtonsaint 3 years ago
A wonderful song & the video is extreemly complimentary. A brilliant job
BoaFilms 4 years ago
My father-in-law Vic Wilton is singing on this. Unfortunately he passed away last year but what a way to remember him.
swilton1 4 years ago
Fantastic, I have some really vivid memories of the floating bridge. I live in Yorkshore now so it really takes me home. Thanks for posting. Also, where can I get a copy of that song?
MaffMoose 4 years ago
what a memory loved going on the ferry when I was little and painted a picture of the ferry for my GCE art portfolio
euphmum 4 years ago
Even before the ferry was built there waw a couple of people that actually rowed people accross the river, and they were my great great grandad and his dad :-)
Ansuzie 4 years ago
it was down kemps quay in Bitterne manor for about 6 years it was a fueling barge.
xxBABiiG3MZxx 4 years ago
Best song ever great song for us southeners to sing when pissed
sainthagens 4 years ago
Back in Southampton the b-side is even better :)
whizzkid69 4 years ago
totally mate, I dont remember the ferry but its part of our heritage & I love this song, where ever I go in the world I'll be singing this
southhantsdean 4 years ago
Brilliant..................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karllamb1 4 years ago
It wasn`t far from the Woolston Ferry to Supermarines where they built the Schneider seaplanes,When I was an apprentice with Folland Aircraft I worked at Eastleigh Airdrome and there in the back of a hanger, covered in dust, and unwanted was the Blue Schneider seaplane. I used to squeeze into the cockpit and eat my lunch. For 10 shillings a month I learnt to fly the yellow bi-plane at the airport the Tiger Moth with the Gypsy 120 hp engine.
Woolston in Wartime
onebush333 5 years ago
AnnMacGillivray (3 minutes ago)
The Old Woolston Ferry still exists!
It is a restaurant called "The Ferry"
To find it travel from Southampton towards Burseldon,
Go under the Railway bridge and turn immediately right towards Alladins Cave Boat Chandlery. The Elephant Boatyard is there. And The Ferry Restaurant.
I have eaten there good food and service.
Very nostalgic!
AnnMacGillivray 5 years ago
It was sung by band called Gutta Percha and the Balladers.
mattsergcooper 5 years ago
AnnMacGillivray (3 minutes ago)
The Old Woolston Ferry still exists!
It is a restaurant called "The Ferry"
To find it travel from Southampton towards Burseldon,
Go under the Railway bridge and turn immediately right towards Alladins Cave Boat Chandlery. The Elephant Boatyard is there. And The Ferry Restaurant.
I have eaten there good food and service.
Very nostalgic!
AnnMacGillivray 5 years ago
so who wrote and perfomed this song??
beachrace 5 years ago
my dad worked on the bridges construction and bought a copy of this record which is still in my collection 30yrs later. Superb childhood memories.
ytpmun 5 years ago
I feel so old now! It was a Rite of Passage to go to Town on your own on the Floating Bridge. When it was turned into a nightclub my Hubby was a bouncer there, way before I met him. It seems like another lifetime ...
chickenwrangler 5 years ago
He might of been on the door the night I saw Tom Robinson Band in a very early Aids benefit gig!
stajs02 5 years ago
I think it was longer ago - mid-late 70's
chickenwrangler 5 years ago
happy days sailing by!
Leicestersaint 5 years ago
superb
saintstriumph 5 years ago