Beast Becomes A Beauty

From beastly to a beacon – the rise and rise of the town of Eastleigh goes on. Emma Caulton paid a visit to see for herself.

- Emma Caulton

AN erstwhile neighbour of mine, Eastleigh born and bred, regularly referred to his home town as “Beastly Eastleigh”. Perhaps it was meant as a term of endearment. However, if it seemed to me an unfair epithet back then, it certainly is now. Yes, Eastleigh was once best known, historically and architecturally, as a Victorian railway town, its streets laid out in a grid pattern of terracing. And fair enough, it was culturally primarily associated as the inspiration for comedian Benny Hill’s novelty song Ernie (the fastest milkman in the West), with a reference to Eastleigh’s Market Street in the lyrics.

But times change. Eastleigh is undergoing a metamorphosis, alongside substantial and ongoing investment. The town is becoming recognised as a hub for contemporary arts. The Point, converted from the old town hall and adjacent library, is now a centre for performance with a specialist devising space and an emphasis on dance, innovative new productions, community clubs and classes. More recently the old sorting office behind the High Street was converted into workspaces for creative businesses.

Even the street scene has been revamped with contemporary metal benches, new lamp columns from which to hang banners and trees lit up at night. A decorative pleasantry, yet such details matter – they create a pleasant ambience.

Green spaces and leisure facilities are optimised. Eastleigh Park, in the centre of town, has a traditional bandstand and popular playground. Fleming Park is having a £25 million pound upgrade, while Lakeside Country Park, 22 hectares of lake, meadow and woodland plus dual gauge railway, has just opened a new waterside centre.