Spike Island is the old name for Sholing, a district of
Southampton.
The Spike Island Band was formed there in 1982, in those
days consisting of just piano accordion, recorder, and banjo.
Since then we have built up our reputation across the south of
England as a lively, interesting, and talented band.
The irony is this: all the founder members
have moved on - now the band no longer has any connection with Spike Island
(except that we like the name!)
From left to right: Ian, Judith, Claire, Steve, Rick, Laurie.
Some bright spark fitted a four-foot handle to the knife!
Spike Island, Southampton
The place from which our band gets its name is between the River Itchen and River Hamble,
particularly around Sholing common.
The name may have come from iron spikes to which 18C/19C convicts were chained before the
were deported to the then British penal colonies.
Or it may have been because of wooden
stockaded areas formed of logs cut to a point on top, which then became called Spike Island.
Later, the name was popularised by soldiers during World War I to describe the location of the
Royal Victoria Military Hospital,
Hampshire.
... not to be confused with ...
Spike Island Motorcycles bears a similar name to our band - but from a heritage entirely different!
Located by the main Southampton to London railway line, these purveyors of machines modern and of
fine vintage get their name from the 'Island', a street over the railway entirely surrounded by
railway tracks and enclosed by spiked fences. Reached only by the bridge in the photo, rumour has
it that the Mods and Rockers in decades long gone would choose Eastleigh's Spike Island for
showdowns and punch-ups!
...also...
