Ocean Terminal, Southampton Docks : Southampton, UK : brochure issued by the British Transport Commission, Docks and Inland Waterways Executive : c.1950 : Cover

            The glossy brochure issued by the British Transport Commission who, along with the railways that served the Terminal, operated the UK's ex-railways docks, harbours and inland waterways through the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive. It describes the fine Ocean Terminal constructed in post-war austerity and opened on 31 July 1950 to serve the then huge numbers of passengers who travelled on liner services and arrived or departed Southampton by rail. As can be seen the Terminal was designed to deal with a full range of services from arrival or departure by train at 'ground level' and on upper floors services such as baggage, customs and passport control were situated along with a wide range of almost airport style passenger amenities; banks, shops and restuarants. 

Architecturally there is something of a Festival of Britain style but overall it has a feel of a pre-war design that was dusted down and I suspect that the Southern Railway, who pre-nationalisation ran Southampton's Docks, may have had a design that was delayed by war. There is a certain restraint in terms of design shown here - but very plush and quite corporate. I like that very corporate look that includes all the service areas, shops and banks.

I quote R P Biddle, the Docks and Marine Manager of the Transport Commission - "there is a streamlined efficiency about the operations which the ocean passenger of today rightly expects and which instantly creates a favourable impression". Oddly no architect is credited.

But it was all very commodious and in pre-jet aviation days it was one of the ports of entry or exit to the UK and I wonder how many passengers waved hello or goodbye to people standing on the liner-like decks of the building over the years.

As liner traffic decreased in the 1960s the Terminal saw less and less use and was finally closed in 1980 and sadly, amidst some protest, it was demolished in 1983. A shame really as within a decade Southampton was busy again with cruise ship traffic and my, would not this building restored have made quite the sight?

Taken on: November 17, 2014

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Southampton

Ocean Terminal Southampton

shipping ephemera

British Transport Commission

Docks and Inland Waterways Board

RMS Queen Elizabeth

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Mike Ashworth Collection « less

Sets appears in: • Ocean Terminal, Southampton Docks : illustrated brochure : British Transport Commission, Docks and Inland Waterways Executive : 1950 • British Waterways - British Transport Commission/British Waterways Board more » • Southampton • British Transport Commission • Shipping advertising • British Railways ephemera « less

Groups appears in: • UK Flickr users • industrial culture more » • Industrial Architecture/ Archaeology UK • Transport In The Frame • Vintage Typography • Golden Age of Advertising: 1950s - 1970s • Flickr Friends of The Twentieth Century Society • 1950s Britain (Original '50s images only) • Nautical pictures of interest. • Classic Transport • PLANET EARTH TRANSPORTATION • British Rail • Vintage Railway Publicity, pre-1980 • PLANET EARTH VINTAGE ARCHITECTURE • Travellers' Tails • PLANET EARTH VINTAGE ADVERTISING • ₪ ARCHITECTUR•ℰxᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ┼ɪɴsɪƊƐ•SIGN ₪ « less

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