Our History

Over 80 years of Swaythling Housing - a brief trip back in time!

Times change and the Society has had to change with them, but community spirit remains as important as ever.

Swaythling Housing Society was founded on 26 November 1925 by Herbert Collins; an architect who had been designing homes in Southampton since 1922, Fred Woolley; an accountant and civic leader who became the Society's first Chairman, and Claude Ashby; a director of Bursledon brick works. The three men all put up £200 worth of shares and William Collins, Herbert's father lent the company £14,000 (worth £373,380 in modern money) for buying land and commencing construction, and so Swaythling Housing Society was born.

In 1925, Swaythling was little more than a small village, although it did have a railway station and tram routes, so it was easily accessible. The first scheme built by the Society was Capon Close, named after William Capon (the Vicar of St Mary's Church, South Stoneham). Capon Close, off Mansbridge Road comprised of 32 properties built around a wide central area of grass in what was to become known as the "Collins Style". The kitchens in the homes were particularly notable, as at the time they were revolutionary, and unlike anything else around at the time.

In the early days, the Society employed its own labour force to build homes, and much of its income came from building homes and then immediately selling them. Many of these homes are in the Bassett Green area of Southampton.

All but four of the properties in Capon Close were later sold, but more similar houses and flats were built in the neighbouring Pilgrim Place, and Howard Close.

By May 1928, the Society had built and let 68 homes in Mansbridge at subsidised rents, but it was having difficulty in acquiring more land to build affordable homes on. The Society therefore undertook other building activities to raise funds, and 16 flats and 6 shops were built at Westfield Corner in Mansbridge, allowing the residents of Capon Close and Pilgrim Place to shop locally. Also in 1928, Herbert Collins took over from Fred Woolley as Chairman of the Society, due to Mr Woolley's other commitments, including being elected as Mayor the following year.

In 1933, the Society constructed six "Bachelor Lady" flats in Southcliffe Road, Southampton, as well as 82 homes in Walnut Avenue, Mansbridge and another 24 flats in Canute Road, near Ocean Village. In March 1934, the Society opened some flats in Lime Street, Southampton, on the site of a block of derelict cottages, but the biggest achievement of that year was the acquisition of Grange Farm, in Mansbridge, which comprised of 70 acres of land and a few farm buildings. 31 acres of this were sold, including some to Southampton University. Within two years, 110 homes had been built on the land, and the first house in Monks Way was opened in March 1935, and this is commemorated by the seat at the junction with Mansbridge Road. Houses were also built in Bank Side, Westbrook Way, Wessex Lane and Grange Close.