Southampton Docks: Looking Back at Britain's Premier Port

There are lots of great photographs of the great liners in or near Southampton. That's nice. For some reason there are even two interior shots of a Swedish ferry, while none of any other ship's interiors. Since the book's subtitle mentioned "looking back," what I had hoped to learn from this book was more about the details of the pre WW2 docks vs. the post war dock facilities vs. the presently used docks. A series of dated maps or diagrams would have helped. I would have liked to see much more information, photos and diagrams of the how the various "boat trains" operated, their name plates, their on board set ups. How does one get from London to the ship today? I would have liked to see much more detail on the legendary Ocean Terminal facility which is quickly glossed over. It is a nice book for what it is, but someone still needs to do a more comprehensive one.

Lots and lots of great photos - but the early history of Southampton is covered in a short chapter - the White Star dock , later to be called Ocean Dock is barely mentioned - along with the class of ships it was designed for. If you interested in the "glory days" of the 50's and early 60's this book is for you - lots of great photos of P&O, Union Castle, and other ships that are long gone now.

I have crossed on the Cunard ships QE2, Queen Mary 2 (three times), Victoria, and the new Elizabeth and am quite familiar with Southampton. I am very happy that Mr. Andrew Britton has taken the time to write this book and include the priceless photos.

Very, very nicely illustrated with many pictures I have never seen before. A well worth purchase for your collection. Plus, plenty of pictures of the SSUS that have not been seen before. A MUST!

I love these kind of books, and I have many of them from this author, it's great.

A wonderfully evocative book! Southampton was truly a maritime Heathrow in the days before jet airliners and the endless to-ings and fro-ings at the port are beautifully recorded in an excellent selection of photos, well printed and mostly in colour.The variety of shipping lines was extraordinary, and the individual styles of ships from the largest most elegant liners to the humblest tugboat are captured in often creative ways - just look at the cover photo! Some readers will probably find that their parents, who like mine often travelled by sea, will certainly be stimulated to recall their memories of those days when travel was more relaxed and elegant. All their favourites are there - Cunard, Union Castle, P and O, Royal Mail Lines, and so on, and the famous liners - the two Queens, the 'United States', 'France', 'Andes', 'Orcades' and various Castles from 'Stirling Castle' to 'Pendennis Castle'. I envy their choice of sailing!What a loss the Ocean Terminal was when it was demolished, and after such a short life. It is a lesson to us younger generations to hold on the decent buildings like this and find new uses for them. The Terminal's destruction was a callous and stupid act, and extremely short-sighted - what were the city fathers thinking?. With imagination (a faculty so often deficient in local government and the business world) the building could have been moth-balled until a new use could be found. The city will always be a centre of some kind of maritime trade, whatever the economic climate, and the building could have had a good future. It was not to be, but least we have a decent photographic record of the well planned and designed maritime terminal.Railways were an integral and essential element in the running of the port and are all too briefly mentioned; rail enthusiasts might feel that not enough attention was given to this part of the operations, but I'm sure Ian Drummond's book 'Southern Rails on Southampton Docks', which I am tempted to buy, will more than fit the bill.Enjoy the memories!

Recipient was delighted !Lots of pictures lots of facts excellent value for money 10/10

Good book as it brings back memories .

Xmas present