Southampton photos: parks, architecture, level crossing and late winter snow -

Taken during a chilly weekend in mid-March, here’s a selection of photos taken around the centre of Southampton.

I was back in Southampton to play at the Talking Heads venue.

It was sunny when I arrived but the last breath of the Siberian ‘Beast From The East‘ was forecast to arrive the next day.

Soundchecking at the venue.

After the show we repaired to Southampton’s late night metal pub, Firehouse.

It was a friendly kind of place but the decor was a strangely Wetherspoons-like.

I liked the graffiti inside the men’s loo!

What a great name!

Balls indeed.

The next day – which was bloody freezing – I took a stroll around town before catching the train up to Bristol for the next show.

Watts Park.

A fine chalky penis.

Pavement mosaics.

Peace fountain.

Sadly, there was ne’er a drop of water to be seen in the fountain.

The heavily weathered Richard Andrews Memorial in East Park (Andrews Park).

The text on the plaque on his statue reads:

Born the son of a wheelwright at Bishop’s Sutton, Hampshire he became a coachbuilder of international fame. His manufactory in above Bar was one of the town’s leading industries. Five times Mayor of Southampton he was known for his generosity and energy in furthering the prosperity of the town. A good employer, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to promoting the self-reliance of the working man. This statue was erected in 1860 and the pedestal reconstructed in 1971.