Yet, beneath the modern veneer, echoes of a bygone era linger, notably in the street name “Angel Crescent.”
This name serves as a poignant reminder of the Angel Inn, a once-prominent coaching inn that stood as a landmark for generations.
The old inn was situated on the south side of Bitterne High Street near its junction with West End Road.
It was more than just a place to quench one’s thirst. It was a vital hub of community life, a staging post for travelers, and a witness to the changing face of Bitterne.
It was built before 1840 and predated many of the surrounding structures, embodying the area’s transition from a rural outpost to a more developed community.
During the 1840’s, William Pottinger presided over the bar and the Rogers family ran the inn during the late 1930’s into the 40’s. As a coaching inn, the Angel Inn played a crucial role in the transportation network of the time. Horse-drawn coaches would stop there, providing weary travelers with respite, refreshment, and a chance to change horses.
The stables and a yard for carriages were situated behind the pub and the inn’s strategic location along a major thoroughfare ensured a steady stream of patrons, contributing to its prominence within the local landscape.
For the residents of Bitterne, the Angel Inn was a focal point, a place where news was exchanged, deals were struck, and social bonds were strengthened. Its presence imbued the High Street with a sense of history and continuity, connecting the present with the past.
However, time and progress are a relentless force and in the latter half of the 20th century, the demands of modern development began to overshadow the historical significance of the Angel Inn.
It was a familiar landmark until its demolition in 1972 to make way for an extension to the Sainsbury’s store.
Once a Coopers Brewery pup, it was a Watneys pub at the time of its demolition.
The building that had stood for much more than a century was razed, erasing a tangible link to Bitterne’s past.
But while the physical structure of the Angel Inn is gone, its memory persists and it is remembered in the street name Angel Crescent.
It is also important to note that there is an Angel Inn located in Palmerston Road, Southampton.
