Route 21 to Newtown

The photo, by Lee Wilkins, dates from 22 August 2006; it shows a bus stop — by this time, no longer in use — for the route 21 bus, operated by the defunct First Hampshire & Dorset (later First Southampton). This local service ran between Lordshill and Newtown via Shirley and Freemantle.

The old ‘First’ logo has been stuck over the top of the original ‘Citybus’ stop sign. Southampton Citybus, which sold out to FirstGroup in 1997, was the operator that used to run services from here; you can still see their logo and phone number at the bottom of the sign.

Despite the removal of this bus stop and sign in October 2015, a new stop — and a corresponding one on the opposite side of the road — has taken its place. Even better, both stops are in use. The infrequent route 61 (Nursling – Bevois Valley) bus, operated by Bluestar, passes this way; it runs along a kind of extended route 21.