The Itchen Ferry Song
Southampton In Song
The Songs
The Itchen Ferry Song
Itchen Ferry village was destroyed in August 1940 during an air raid which was targetting the Supermarine Spitfire factory close by.
Up until that time it had been a thriving local community on the banks of the Itchen. Ideally placed as a crossing point to the main town of Southampton across the river, ferrymen plied their trade, and included one Samuel Pepys as a passenger!
Today, little remains of the original houses, taverns, shops and brewery that were Itchen Ferry Village, and what buildings have escaped the ravages of time and progress are looked down upon by the towering concrete bridge which now spans the river.
The first verse of our song is remembered as having been sung in the village, probably at the Yacht Tavern on a Saturday night. We have declined to include the line "We kill all the coppers that come down our way" in our version, although this apparently was sung with gusto as the ale flowed!
Our version was recorded 'live' at the Fo'c'sle folk music club, at a session in the Duke of Wellington pub, Bugle Street, Southampton.
Brian Hooper
Jeff Henry