Out of the near 2,200 passengers and crew aboard the RMS Titanic, 724 of those people were residents of the city of Southampton. The shadow cast by Titanic disaster is not long forgotten by the residents of Southampton. One street in particular could deemed one of the worst affected by the sinking. Oxford Street is located at the heart of Southampton’s maritime quarter and was once home to 35 people who would go on to work on Titanic.
1) The Sailor’s Home, Oxford Street:
The Sailor’s Home was originally established for orphans or more typically sailors living away from home. Living standards in the Sailor’s Home were often small, communal rooms, each designed to take seven sailors each. James Gordon, was living in the Sailor’s Home and worked on the Titanic as a trimmer. The job of trimmer required working in one of Titanic’s six boiler rooms. They would help load the coal into Titanic’s furnaces which powered the ship. Gordon, unfortunately was on Oxford Street’s Titanic victims, Gordon was 29 when he was lost during the sinking.
2) Hooper’s Temperance Hotel
Like the Sailor’s Home, Hooper’s was a hotel most frequently used by sailors. Ludwig Muller, worked on the Titanic as a third class interpreter and steward. Muller’s job was particularly important as many of Titanic’s third-class passengers did not speak much English. Muller would have been responsible for helping passengers, with English, not listed as their first language. It’s almost certain that on the night the Titanic sank Muller would have been instructed to reassure passengers that they were not in serious danger. Muller’s last address was Hooper’s Temperance Hotel. Muller was lost in the sinking aged 36. Alongside Muller Arthur Lawrence, a first class steward had listed their last address as Hooper’s. However, like Muller Lawrence (aged 35) was also lost in the sinking. Lawrence’s body was recovered.
Arthur Lawrence’s body description according to Encyclopaedia Titanica:
3) Citeron Restruant, Oxford Street:
The Citerion Res truant was home to three of Titanic’s victims: Humprhey Lloyd (32), Thomas Edgar Major (35) and Edward Skinner (33). All three men served on the Titanic as first-class stewards. The role of the stewards was to tend to all the needs of the passengers, this varied from helping passengers navigate themselves around the ship, bringing passengers drinks and food to their cabin and advising passengers about activities that were taking place during in the course of the voyage. Lloyd, Major and Skinner would have been located anywhere from the entrance to the first class, which was located on A Deck and around the entrances to Titanic’s veranda and first class dining saloon.
4) The Cambridge Temprance Hotel, Oxford Street
This hotel was the last known address of second class bath steward, George Hinkley. Hinkley would have worked in Titanic’s Turkish Bath spa. Alongside Titanic looking visually impressive, passengers were also subject to the luxurious treatments that the ship had to offer. Many first class passengers had the opportunity to visit the Turkish Baths or use Titanic’s sport facilities, which included a gymnasium located on the boat deck. The gym comprised state of the art equipment such as an electric camel. Hinkley was lost during the sinking aged 40. Hinkley’s body was recovered by the Mackay Bennet.
5) The Grapes, Oxford Street
One of the most famous places linked with the Titanic is located in heart of Oxford Street. The Grapes was originally opened in 1855 and was extremely popular place with sailors who where staying in area. By 1912 the Grapes was certainly a regular haunt for many who sailed on the Titanic from the nearby berth 44/45, now known as the Ocean Terminal. On the morning of April 10th, 1912, Alfred,Tom and Bertman Slade were drinking with another sailor who had signed on the Titanic. it fast approaching 12 o clock when the brothers left the pub and hurried towards the docks. As they crossed the Southwestern Hotel a train was coming towards them. The brothers decided to let the train pass. But by the time they reached the Ocean Terminal Titanic had already left. It’s also speculated that Titanic’s second officer Charles Herbert Lightoller had paid a visit to the Grapes, however, it’s never been officially confirmed.
6) The Southwestern Hotel
Nowadays the former Southwestern Hotel isn’t considered as part of Oxford Street, but rather a joining point between Oxford Street and Canute Road. However, back in 1912 the Southwestern Hotel was apart of Oxford Street. Many of Titanic’s first class passengers, would have stopped at the hotel the night before Titanic’s maiden voyage. There was a total of 882 people boarding Titanic at Southampton, 724 of those were residents of Southampton. The Southwestern House was actually rather handy as it was part of the ‘boat trian’ link which ran from Waterloo Station in London all the way past Titanic’s berth and back to the Southwestern Hotel. First class passengers such as John Jacob Astor and his eighteen year old wife Madeline would have stopped at the Southwestern Hotel. John Astor was one the richest passengers on Titanic, he had a net worth of an estimated £4.8 million.
7) Alliance Hotel, Oxford Street:
Formerly known as the Oxford Tamperance Hotel, the Alliance was the last known lodging of the Braund family. The family were traveling as third class passengers, the third class activities on board Titanic were not nearly as impressive as facilities offered to the first and the second. However, tickets were considerably cheaper a standard third class ticket would have cost £7.25 in today’s currency. Out of the 6 only Susan Webber who was traveling with the Braunds survived the sinking.
8) Cuthbert Taylor’s House, Oxford Street:
Cuthbert Taylor served on the Titanic as a third class steward. Taylor had only signed on six days before Titanic’s maiden voyage, he had previously served on Titanic’s sister, RMS Olympic. The average wage for a steward was £3.15s. Taylor was lost during the sinking and his body was not recovered. The only memorials standing for Cuthbert is located on Oxford street, across the street from the Sailor’s Home. Another memorial was erected for the steward at Sussex Cathedral, which was Taylor’s home town.
As always, I’ll leave a few links on Titanic’s connections with Oxford Street and Southampton. A few of the places I mentioned such as the Grapes, the Southwestern Hotel and Cuthbert Taylor’s home are still standing and seemed to have changed very little. The Grapes is still a functioning pub and great visit for the Titanic enthusiasts, if you find yourself in the area.
Feel free to ask any questions, have a titanic week! Millie.
Oxford Street and Titanic: https://www.oxfordstreetsouthampton.co.uk/maritime-history/
The Southampton Guide: https://thesouthamptonguide.com/oxford-street-southampton-titanic-day/
Arthur Lawrence according to Encyclopaedia Titanica: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/arthur-lawrance.html