Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 5th February 2026
Can you help turn an unconfirmed Supermarine subcontractor into a confirmed one?
Initially posted by Michaela Lawler-Levene on the Facebook page of the Shirley Local History Group
We are sharing this photograph courtesy of Southampton City Council Archives. It is from a collection of photographs of Winchester Road, Shirley, taken on 2/10/1957.
The plans for the flats behind the garage went through the council in 1954, which surprised us, as we thought they looked like 1960s.
We are very interested in the garage, Light and Law, which featured in the WW2 memories of Don Smith, which were captured in an interview in 2010 and mentioned in our book about the History of St James Park and its locality.
Don was an apprentice at Autometalcraft on Emsworth Road during WW2. His workplace was taken over for Spitfire Making and being the youngster he was tasked with all sorts of errands, including ones to this garage, where he recounts a story of being told not to interrupt the work going on as this was the only place this particular job was being done for Spitfires. (A part for Spitfire propellers).
Because to date we only have Don’s testimony of this Spitfire work and no other corroborating evidence, Spitfire Makers haven’t yet been able to place one of their plaques in this location. We would love to hear more stories relating to the garage. It would be amazing if more evidence could be found.
(We have posted about this before and found out that Light and Law had a foundry near the old cattle market and when these premises were demolished they moved to Milbrook Industrial Estate. Please share any info. you can add.)
(Thank you to Madge Heath for uncovering this photo from the archives and for researching and confirming the dates.)
Image courtesy of Southampton City Archives
Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 16th February 2026
Who was BILL BULL?
One or more family members of Spitfire Maker, Bill Bull, got in touch with us about the work he did for Supermarine, probably at Woolston.
We have somehow lost your contact details and the info you shared about Bill. If this was you, or you know who to pass this on to, please get in touch.
Thanks.
The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust 