John Oram's photos with the keyword: East Street

Even on a pleasant September day, Southampton's East Street presents a grim aspect. Retail properties have suffered badly from developments elsewhere in the city and such situations tend to be self-perpetuating. Thus the flow of business remains outwards. It is the end of the street, however, with its supposedly temporary view of the scaffolded Central Hall which tells a sadder tale. The now demolished Lime Street car park closed over a year ago and demolition of the East Street Shopping Centre followed in preparation for the construction of a new Morrisons. The months have passed and Southampton has gained a wasteland which can not yet be described even as a building site because preparatory work has not been completed. There is, apparently, some sort of dispute or unexpected difficulty and I am sure many people in addition to myself wonder if the supermarket will ever rise above the scarred land of this latest planning debacle. 200_P1050726

Since I took my photographs on 4 January, the view to Central Hall from East Street in Southampton has become less obstructed. I have learned that the Morrisons will not fill the space to the extent that East Street Shopping Centre did. There will be a partial view of Central Hall and a walking route to the St. Mary's ground (Southampton FC). The walking route was previously through the shopping centre. Afternoon sunshine aided a composition which tries to capture something of the character of the end of East Street. I waited a long time for this shot as a white van was illegally parked on the yellow lines to the left. 200_P1000285

Since I took my photographs on 4 January, the view to Central Hall from East Street in Southampton has become less obstructed. I have learned that the Morrisons will not fill the space to the extent that East Street Shopping Centre did. There will be a partial view of Central Hall and a walking route to the St. Mary's ground (Southampton FC). The walking route was previously through the shopping centre. Afternoon sunshine and puddles from recent rainfall aided a composition which tries to capture something of the character of the end of East Street. 200_P1000282

Only two days ago when I photographed nearby Lime Street, the remaining facade of East Street Shopping Centre was still in place. Today, its subsequent demolition reveals a temporary view from East Street of Southampton's Central Hall previously obscured by the shopping centre and eventually, one presumes, to be obscured again by the Morrisons supermarket scheduled to be built on this site. Clearance of the site is now nearly complete and the new store is due to open by the end of 2014. 200_P1010488

Only two days ago when I photographed nearby Lime Street, the remaining facade of East Street Shopping Centre was still in place. Today, its subsequent demolition reveals a temporary view from East Street of Southampton's Central Hall previously obscured by the shopping centre and eventually, one presumes, to be obscured again by the Morrisons supermarket scheduled to be built on this site. Clearance of the site is now nearly complete and the new store is due to open by the end of 2014. 200_P1010486

This late summer evening shot of the long closed East Street Shopping Centre in Southampton has provided me with an opportunity for another of my 'amusing' titles. The retail sun has already set on this feature which is undergoing development into a controversial city-centre Morrisons. 'Soft' demolition having been under way for 2-3 weeks, the glazed frontage has now been obscured as work continues. Development notwithstanding, the harsh evening shadow is symbolic of the potential future for much retail space in Southampton away from West Quay. X20_DSCF1988

This branch of dry cleaners Johnsons closed one year ago today (as can be seen from the poster in the window). The stripped fascia reveals evidence of its former identity as a Bollom. This property on the corner of East Street and Orchard Lane is unfortunately symbolic of creeping decline in many parts of Southampton. P1180808