Southampton House Buying Guide

With its charming village centre and romantic abbey ruins, Netley has a quaint, 'step-back-in-time' feel which attracts many newcomers. This makes it an ideal spot to put down roots if you want somewhere with a bit of history and on the quiet side. However, this old-worldly suburb has plenty of nearby walks, pubs and restaurants to keep you occupied at weekends, so you won't be bored!

Transport

Netley has its own train station, with hourly trains to Southampton and Portsmouth in under 30 minutes. You can also drive into Southampton in about 15 minutes, or cycle in 30.

Local schools

Being a small area, Netley has three schools to choose from; Netley Abbey Infant School and Netley Abbey & Butlocks Heath County Junior School, all rated 'good' by Ofsted. For older children, the closest secondary school is Weston, however it isn't considered the best. Itchen Sixth Form College and King Edward VI School are futher afield, but have higher ratings.

Property price growth

Over the last year, property prices in Netley are 15% up on the previous year.

History

Netley is known for its historic abbey, which was founded in 1238 but later granted to Sir William Paulet when King Henry VIII suppressed the lesser monasteries. He transformed the abbey into his private mansion, fashioning it into a stylish Tudor courtyard house. The mansion was occupied until 1704, when the owner sold it for building materials - the abbey was only saved because a demolition worker was killed, causing work to cease!

After that, the site was abandoned, but over time attracted artists and writers of the Romantic Movement as well as locals who used the area for picnics. Later on, the vegetation and debris were removed from the ruins and all Tudor additions taken down to restore the site to its 'original' design.

It wasn't until the 19th century that Netley consisted of more than the abbey ruins and two villas - Netley Castle and Netley Lodge. But the area was developed after the founding of the old Royal Victoria Military Hospital in 1856.

West End is a village 5 miles east of Southampton that's known for being surrounded by woodland and green space - 38 acres to be exact! Perfect for weekend dog walks, picnics or games of footie. It's a quiet, leafy neighbourhood, perfect for those who want to be within reach of the city but somewhere more peaceful.

Transport

You can get into central Southampton from West End in just over 30 minutes by train, or under 15 minutes by car. It's also a quick 30 minutes cycle away!

Local schools

There aren't many schools in the West End, but Moorlands Primary School and nearby Bitterne Park Primary School have both been rated highly. Bitterne Park School is also a good option for secondary education, too.

Property price growth

Over the last year, property prices in West End are 6% up on the previous year.

History

The West End has been occupied for thousands of years! A series of round barrows from the Bronze Age have been found in the area, as well as a hilltop fort from the Iron Age. Originally, the village was a hamlet which developed around the track between Romsey and Portsmouth, growing further when the track turned into a turnpike road in the early 19th century.

One of the most recent additions to the area is the Rose Bowl, a cricket ground that has hosted several international games as well as well-known music acts.

Southampton's modern marina, Ocean Village is the city's answer to St. Tropez (albeit less sunny). With rows of yachts, a skyline full of swaying masts and modern apartments, Ocean Village is perfect for those looking for that coastal lifestyle while being close to the city centre.

Transport

Part of central Southampton, you can walk from the main parts of the city to Ocean Village in a matter of minutes. It's also a 30 minute walk to the city's main station, from which you can get trains to London, Brighton and Bristol. Or take the ferry from the Docks to Isle of Wight for a day trip!

Local schools

The closest primary school to Ocean Village is Hope Community School which is rated 'good' by Ofsted, as is the slightly further afield St Mary's C of E Primary. For secondary schools, you will have to go further still; consider St Mark's Church of England School, Bitterne Park School or Itchen College.

Property price growth

Over the last year, property prices in Ocean Village are 8% up on the previous year.

History

Southampton has been a hub for shipping and trade for centuries, with Watergate Quay first recored back in 1411. In 1803, the newly-formed Harbour Commissioners demolished Watergate and began to build the new Town Quay on the site. In 1938, the Southampton Dock Company started construction on the Outer Dock, followed by the Inner Dock in 1851, then by Empress Dock in 1890 and White Star Dock in 1911. In the '30s, 400 acres of land reclaimed from the sea was used to create the New Docks, known now as Western Docks.

It was following the creation of the New Docks that the older, smaller Outer Docks fell into decline. By the 1980s, the area was mostly warehouses and rundown buildings. But in 1986 this was all torn down to make was for a new, £75 million development - Ocean Village.