The Star Hotel, situated on the east side of the High Street between East Street and Holyrood Place, dates back to at least the early 17th century when it appears in the Court leet records. It was, however, probably an inn long before this.
The current building dates from the 18th century. The lower three storeys were built before 1800 and the upper storey was added and the whole stuccoed in c.1830-1840. According to David Lloyd (Buildings of England: Hampshire and the I.O.W., by Nikolaus Pevsner and David Lloyd), the iron balcony is post-1840.
From the late 18th century it was a famous coaching inn and still retains the archway through which coaches passed to the courtyard and stables. It is Grade II* listed. An historic plate is fixed to the front wall of the hotel near the archway. It reads: “Coaches to London (Sundays excepted). Alresford Alton. Performs 10 hours.” This probably refers to Collyers Long Coach which left at 5 am each day for the Belle Savage Inn, Ludgate Hill, London.
1. Star Hotel
A modern view of the hotel.
1. Star Hotel×
2. Star Hotel
The Star Hotel in 1941, after the Blitz
2. Star Hotel×
3. Star Hotel
This engraving of c.1840 shows the Star, before the construction of the upper storey and with a balcony.
3. Star Hotel×
4. Star Hotel: Stagecoach Sign
Photograph, 1941
4. Star Hotel: Stagecoach Sign×
Further reading:
Southampton Occasional Notes, by ‘Townsman’, p21, 22. (HS/h)
Historic Buildings of Southampton, by Philip Peberdy, p14. (HS/k)
Southampton Archaeological Society Bulletin, No. 16, p19, 20. (HS/f)
Buildings of England: Hampshire and the I.O.W., by Nikolaus Pevsner and David Lloyd, p546. (H/i)
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