Sotonopedia

Running south from St Michael's Square to the Town Quay, Bugle Street, which has also been known as Bull Street, is one of the oldest streets in the walled town. The name (in either form) derives from the Latin Buculus, a young bull, and by transference also indicated its horn, or bugle, originally made from such a horn.

Upper Bugle Street, previously Fish Street and Pepper Alley, runs north from St Michael’s Square to Simnel Street.

The modern street still contains many architecturally interesting buildings from the Royal Southern Yacht Club at its southern end to Tudor House in St Michael’s Square, and many fine buildings along its length. The Duke of Wellington public house is of medieval origin although much altered; nos.11-13 (image 1) is a fine example of a mid 18th century house with two storeys, attics and basement; no. 49, a three-storey building with a curved Dutch gable (image 4), was originally built in the 17th century but was rebuilt in the 18th century; no. 47, a tall four-storey red brick house dates from the mid 18th century; no.45 also known as Normandy House was originally built in the 16th century but was altered in the 18th century; no. 43 (image 3) was built in the 18th century but has been much altered since; similarly, no.51 (image 5) was built in the 16th century and altered in the 18th century; the small house adjoining Tudor House, no.59 (image 6) is also of the 18th century. There are also houses from the early 19th century including Bugle House at no. 53 and a pair of three-storeyed houses at nos. 1-3 (image 2) The detached three-storeyed house at no. 8 (image 7) is also early 19th century.

David Lloyd (Building of England: Hampshire and the I.O.W) wrote that it is “the best historic street in Southampton, in fact the only street in the Old Town with a grouping of mainly domestic or commercial buildings forming memorable townscape”.

1. 11-13 Bugle Street

Photograph, c.2000

2. 1-3 Bugle Street

splay: no

3. 43 Bugle Street

Photograph c.2000

4. 49 Bugle Street

Photograph c.2000

5. 51 Bugle Street

Photograph c.2000

6. 59 Bugle Street

Photograph c.2000

7. 8 Bugle Street

Photograph c.2000

Further reading:

Excavations in Medieval Southampton, by Colin Platt (ed), 129-132, 225-27. (HS/f)
Medieval Southampton, by Colin Platt, p46-9. (HS/h)
Architecture of Southampton, by A. E. R. in Architectural Review, February 1919, p32-33. (HS/i)
Building of England: Hampshire and the I.O.W., by Nikolaus Pevsner and David Lloyd, p543-44. (H/i)

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