Visit the Victorian Quaker Meeting House (1884) to view and discuss its history and design.
We know that the first Quaker meeting house in Southampton was a private home because it was mentioned in court proceedings in 1660. Between 1657 and 1666 some 60 Friends were prosecuted (a third of them women) for holding their own meetings for worship not in a church.
After the passing of the Toleration Act in 1689, Quakers built a registered Meeting House in Castle Lane in 1705, then in Castle Square in 1822. As the town grew, a new Meeting House was built in 1884 conveniently close to the Quaker Burial Ground. The address ‘Ordnance Road’ with its military connotations was considered ‘unfriendly’ but Friends hoped that they might ‘plant heavenly ordnance in the locality’. The architect was instructed to design ‘something between a chapel, a mission room and a club building’.
Visitors will notice the striking simplicity of the meeting rooms. Until the 1970s there was a raised platform for elders facing the meeting, however this was removed to demonstrate the traditional Quaker concern of equality, which is one of our testimonies. The others are peace, truth and integrity, and simplicity and sustainability.
In 2024 Southampton Quaker Meeting agreed to share the building with the Society of St James, an organisation which offers support to people experiencing homelessness. They use the upstairs for office work, and the downstairs during the week for the educational and support programme. Other organisations which align with our testimonies regularly hire the building.
Timings & Tours
Saturday 13th September: 10am - 4pm
Location & directions
Directions: If you are travelling by bus the nearest stop is Law Courts. Pay and display car park (48 spaces) is available in Ordnance Road on the opposite side to the Meeting House (2 minutes walk). Bedford Place multi-storey car park, Lower Banister Street, SO15 2DB is a 5 minute walk away.
Contact on day: Trish Roscoe
Telephone number: +447765998198
Booking information
Pre-booking requirement: Pre-booking not required
Accessibility Details
The upstairs room is only accessible by stairs. There is no lift. The main room where Meeting for Worship is held is downstairs.
Additional Information
The Southampton Quaker Burial Ground on the corner of Brighton Road and the Avenue (SO17 1XR) will also be open from 10am - 4pm on 13th September. It is about 12 minutes to walk there so you may wish to visit both venues.