The Polygon (or simply Polygon) is an area in the

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

Southampton Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...

, England. The area is located north of the Western Esplanade, Commercial Road and Cumberland Place; east of Hill Lane and Rollesbrook Greenway; south of Archers Road; and west of Dorset street and The Avenue ( A33). The area notably encompass Watts Park,

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and the

Maritime & Coastguard Agency The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom that is responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It works to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to prevent mar ...

. The residential area consists of largely Edwardian red brick houses.

History

The name originates from a planned grand development in this area – a twelve-sided polygon that would comprise houses, hotels, assembly rooms and a tavern. The design was the brainchild of architect Jacob Leroux, who saw it as Southampton's answer to

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. Construction began in 1768, but only the hotel and three houses were completed when one of the investors went bankrupt and the project stalled. The hotel opened in 1773, although it did not do very good business. In the Victorian era, many more houses, typical of the time, were built on the surrounding land, forming the area and buildings known as The Polygon today. The original Polygon Hotel was demolished in the 1780s; a new Polygon Hotel was constructed in Victorian times, which became a notable place to stay in Southampton, with guests including boxer

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, and comedians

Tommy Cooper Thomas Frederick Cooper (19 March 1921 – 15 April 1984) was a Welsh prop comedian and magician. As an entertainer, his appearance was large and lumbering at , and he habitually wore a red fez when performing. He served in the British Army ...

and

Morecambe and Wise Eric Morecambe (John Eric Bartholomew; 14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984) and Ernie Wise (Ernest Wiseman; 27 November 1925 – 21 March 1999), known as Morecambe and Wise (and sometimes as Eric and Ernie), were an English comic double act, working ...

. Many passengers on the

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had stayed here before sailing. The hotel fell into decline, however, and was replaced in 1999 with a block of flats.

Education

There is a secondary school: St Anne's Catholic School, a primary school: Springhill Catholic Primary School, a SEN school: The Polygon School and a language college: Southampton Language College.

Places of interest

*St Edmunds Roman Catholic Church *St Marks Church Centre *Romero Halls of Residence *Southampton & New Forest Magistrates *

*Watts Park *

*The Polygon Park and Sandhurst Allotments *Bedford Place

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polygon, Southampton Areas of Southampton