Historical Diving Society

The Historical Diving Society (HDS) was formed in 1990 in the UK by a group of enthusiasts whose aim is to preserve and protect diving heritage. Since then the Society has grown into an international organisation with affiliated national societies across the world.

The Historical Diving Society will be bringing along their standard or 'hard hat' diving gear, which they will be demonstrating in the Dry Dock. Don't miss the chance to see how diving was done in the 19th century!

Southampton Arts and Heritage

Discover the city's history in its 50th year of city status. 

City of Southampton Society

An organisation that cares for the city's heritage and green spaces. 

Jubilee Sailing Trust

The Jubilee Tall Ships Sailing Trust is a registered charity whose mission is to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of sailing tall ships on the open sea. They own and operate two ships specially designed and built for this purpose, Lord Nelson and Tenacious. Their display will include information on the Trust and their work, and the Tall Ship Tenacious, a class A tall ship used by the Trust that is specially fitted to allow people of all physical and sensory ability to take part in sailing the ship. 

Medway Queen

The Medway Queen Preservation Society is based in the Medway area of Kent, but draws support from all around the world. Its a volunteer led society, but employs professionals for the rebuild of the ship. The society's aim is to restore the ship, bring her back to working condition.

Their display will include photographic display of the history and rebuild of the Medway Queen, and the Review of the Fleet display of 1/1,200 scale model ships. 

Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery

Southampton Cemetery hold the keys to the past lives of many people involved in our maritme past. 

Ocean Liner Society

Dunkirk Little Ships Challenge Tent

The S.T. Challenge is the last steam tug to serve on the Thames, and was one of the nearly 1000 vessels that took part in the evacuation of the Allied Army from Dunkirk in 1940. The Dunkirk Little Ship Restoration Trust is a charity that rescues ships that participated in Dunkirk from being broken up and destroyed, and works to restore them to their former glory. They also aim to promote the boat-building and restoration skills that are  necessary to undertake this work. The DLSRT and Challenge tent will provide information on S.T. Challenge and other vessels that the DLSRT have saved, and the work that the Trust does. 

Southampton and District Transport Heritage Trust

The Southampton District Transport Heritage Trust are a voluntary organisation that maintain and run historic Southampton buses for the benefit of Southampton Citizens and visitors to the City. At present they are trying to restore a Standee 255 – JOW 928 bus and get it back on the road, but the Trust and its members also own a number of other buses. 

Tram 57 Project

Southampton Tram No. 57 was found near Romsey in 1975 and, in 1977, Tram 57 Project was set up by members of the Southampton University Industrial Archaeology Group to restore it. One of the bright red trams that used to run through Southampton’s town centre for 50 years. Subsequently two trams in better condition, Nos. 11 and 38, were discovered and 57 was put into store to enable work to concentrate on those.

11 and 38 are housed, along with Lisbon tram No. 715, in a new workshop built in Southampton’s Eastern Docks, which will be open to the public during the Festival. 

The Maritime Archaeology Trust Maritime Bus

The Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology is a charitable trust that researches maritime archaeology and heritage across Great Britain.  Their Maritime Bus is an inspiring purpose built mobile exhibition which brings state-of-the-art maritime archaeology, fascinating collections, interactive resources and fun activities to you. 

Red Funnel Heritage

Red Funnel has a long history in Southampton. Learn about their roots and their future at their display and in a special talk.  

Royal Southampton Yacht Club

Learn about Yachting traditions in Southampton.

The Southampton Tourist Guide Association is the only official tour guiding organisation in Southampton. As a consortium of fully qualified tourist guides we dedicate ourselves to serving residents and visitors to the city and its surrounds in their quest to finding out what there is to know about this part of England's origins, history and culture. 

Southampton Tourist Guides
Come and visit our stand at the Maritime Festival.  You will find us inside the terminal entrance hall.  Find out about the themed walks we offer of Southampton and the history of this great city.

Titanic Tours

Join us on a Titanic tour inside the dock and nearby, to see sites associated with the Titanic. Including:-

• the berth where Titanic sailed from
• the story of Titanic's near collision on leaving the dock, which may have averted the tragedy four days later
• the Titanic memorial inside the dock entrance, dedicated to all the passengers and crew who boarded Titanic
• the hotel where First Class passengers stayed the night before the Titanic sailed
• the pub where some of the Titanic stokers took their last drink, hear the story of three of their colleagues who had a lucky escape
• see the White Star Offices, where the crew's families heard the news of whether their loved ones had survived or perished

Cost of the tour £2.00 per adult, accompanied children free. Payable at the stand.

Walks will take place at intervals throughout the Festival. Approx length of tour 3/4 hour.

Re-admittance to the Festival will be allowed following the walk

Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum

The Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum is a volunteer run independent museum based near Southampton. The Brickworks closed in 1974 and was left to decay for nearly 20 years. In the early 1990's the site was sold to the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust and a dowry was made available to restore the site. Now fully restored, the buildings are used as an industrial museum.

Bournemouth University - MAD about the wreck

Bournemouth University has received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the M.A.D. About the Wreck Project, a partnership with Poole Museum in order to make maritime archaeology accessible to the community, utilizing as a vehicle the seventeenth century Swash Channel Wreck which was discovered just outside Poole Harbour.

The Bitterne Local History Society

The Bitterne Local History Society is dedicated to studying and researching the history of Southampton in general, but with particular reference to the City areas east of the River Itchen. They rescue artefacts, organise trips, give talks and guided walks, loan items to schools and publish a quarterly magazine, books a series of local papers. 

The Thornycroft Society Ltd. 

The Thornycroft SocietyLtd. will be joining us at the Festival with vintage trucks. 

Southampton Cenotaph Families and Friends

Learn about the stories of the servicemen and women of Southampton, England, who fought so valiantly and died in the First and Second World Wars.

Perkin's Heritage Group

With 80 years maritime experience, Perkins are experts in the engine industry, designing powerful solutions. Learn more about their heritage and how our dependable solutions have provided power around the world, since 1932.

Ocean Youth Trust

Ocean Youth Trust South is charity which uses Adventure Under Sail as a personal development opportunity for young people aged 12-25, taking them to sea in a 72-foot yacht John Laing.

Merchant Navy Association 

The Association came off the slipway in 1989 and has been guided to seek more recognition and respect for our seafaring veterans, life at sea and our maritime history. 

Southampton & District Philatelic Society

Got an interest in stamps or postal history? Come on down and see some rare examples.  

Medusa Trust

Medusa Trust

The Medusa Trust, a registered charity, exists to preserve HMS Medusa, ML1387, for future generations and use her to provide benefit to the public who can experience what it was like to be on a small naval vessel of WW2. 

National Historic Ship UK

Image: The Edith May

National Historic Ships UK is a government funded, independent organisation which gives objective advice to UK governments and local authorities, funding bodies, and the historic ships sector on all matters relating to historic vessels in the UK. They will be having a display of photographs of their 2012 Photo Competition to give you inspiration for their 2013 competition which is still open to entries.

Matchstick Armada

See beautifully crafted matchstick recreations of historic boats and ships by Southampton resident David Reynolds. 

IMAGE: David Reynolds

Hampshire Industrial Archaeology Society

Hampshire Industrial Archaeology Society (HIAS) is an active group with a current membership of about 100, interested in all aspects of Hampshire's Industrial Archaeology.

Their activities have included surveys of mills, breweries, brickworks, etc., as well as restoration and preservation. Visits to places of IA interest are also arranged and we host and participate in IA conference.

Steamship Freshspring Society

This organisation seeks to conserve the historic steam ship Freshspring, who is the sole survivor of her class in original form. She was intended to carry fresh water to warships at dockyards and naval anchorages, but now rests on the banks of the River Severn near Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire, England, awaiting her salvation.