IT stood in Southampton’s Above Bar for years, an almost brooding heavy Victorian gothic building which for many people was a well-known landmark.
The Royal Southampton Yacht Club’s imposing premises was located close to the present day entrance to the Mall Marlands shopping centre and the foundation stone was laid on April 9, 1885 by the Marquis of Ailsa, then Commodore of the club.
At the commemorative banquet, on the same day, the club’s membership totalled 450, with a list of 240 yachts and a tonnage of 14,000.
The club had its beginnings back in the 1860s when yachting in Southampton centred largely around the Western Shore. From the old West Quay Regatta Club there finally emerged two clubs – the Royal Southern, then at the shore end of the Royal Pier, and the Royal Southampton in Above Bar.
The club was granted its royal warrant in 1877 while the Royal Southern moved to Hamble just before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.
Despite the enemy bombing, the Royal Southampton building seemed to be impregnable and the premises survived the blitz.
It was not only the outside of the club that was impressive, the interior was equally on a grand scale as an old souvenir brochure described: “An interesting feature of the club which always strikes the visitor is the fine collection of models in wood of various famous yachts.
“These adorn the walls to the right of the staircase leading to the library and writing room, a pleasant dining room overlooking Above Bar, an admirably equipped billiard room, as well as card rooms.
“The main building is surmounted by an observation tower, which affords extensive views of Southampton Water and the neighbourhood.’’
Finally it was realised that neither the architecture, nor the layout of the old clubhouse was really suited to the old a modern organisation and not only that, the site on which it stood had become extremely valuable.
So in 1957 the club moved to a former hotel in Northlands Road which was converted and extended.
The club remained in these premises until it relocated to its purpose-built waterfront clubhouse in Ocean Village in 1988.
