Hawthorn Cottage, built in 1818 on Southampton Common, once stood on the land now occupied by The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre

Info courtesy of Paul Lipscombe, Southampton History Photos.

“Very few people remember the Hawthorn cottage that graced Southampton common it was built in 1818 by Thomas Ridding, in Georgian style. Although named Hawthorn Cottage it was a substantial country house. John Ransom, a local shipbuilder, lived here from 1851 until his death in 1886. The house survived the war but did suffer some damage, southampton council brought the lease and decided to demolish in 1946 the land where the cottage stood was used to build the zoo by the Chipperfield family in 1961, that remained on the site for over 20 years before that was closed down in 1985,the Hawthorns Centre now own the site but they have decided to just open it 5 hours week every Sunday to the public.”