Despite being 200 miles away from Cornwall, Southampton has a number of connections to the Duchy.

Numerous individuals, many from Cornwall, embarked on a journey to start a new chapter in their lives by departing from the port of Southampton to new shores as emigrants.

In fact, in the early 19th century, the influx of individuals from the Duchy traveling through Southampton was so significant that a dedicated hotel was established exclusively for the convenience of Cornish visitors.

Once a bustling establishment, The Cornish Hotel operated until the late 1930s, occupying a prime location in Orchard Place near the Eastern Docks of Southampton.

These days the landscape has undergone significant transformation, with various properties being demolished over the years to make way for redevelopment projects.

However, these pictures show the hotel and Orchard Place around the end of the 19th century or early in the 20th century.

(Image: Echo)

Opened in 1895 at 13 Orchard Place, the exclusive temperance hotel, managed by Fairburn, Martin and Fleet, replaced the Belgrave House apartments previously run by a Mrs Skeats.

In the year 1913, significant growth had taken place at the hotel, incorporating what was previously known as "Mrs Jemima Robinson, apartments" at number 14.

Expansion continued until the year 1934, when Fairburn, Martin, and Fleet decided to part ways and close the hotel.

Continuing the Cornish connection and following a temporary shutdown, a Cornish Café and Cornish Boarding House emerged at addresses 13 and 14, managed by new owner, RP Bolestridge.

(Image: Echo)

His name was last documented in the Southampton section of the Kelly’s directory of 1936-37.

During its peak, the Cornish Hotel had garnered favour among individuals hailing from the West Country.

Historical accounts reveal that in 1920, a postcard was dispatched by a visitor from Cornwall to Southampton just prior to embarking on a journey to America.

The postcard, sent back to Cornwall, read: “This is the hotel we put up at, quite a nice place. Some crowd of people going across – one feels quite at home here among so many Cornish folks, and a nice lot of them, too.”