Grimmest place in the south?

[Sweet FA]

Pitsea

Though a brilliant place to grow up in. Our row was one of the first completed on the Chalvedon Estate (c.'73/'74 I guess) meaning I lived on a massive building site for 2 or 3 years while the rest of the estate was built. Basically a huge playground. Add the fact that pretty much everyone moving onto the estate had young children & it was mainly car free = perfect environment for a free roaming childhood (well the 10 years we were there anyway). I bought my first singles off Pitsea Market. I remember Lena Zavaroni opening the first hypermarket in the UK there. Jumpers for goalposts.

 

[Sweet FA]

Eastleigh is on the Itchen valley, but you are correct in the evaluation of its grimness.

Beastleigh as it's known.

 

[albionism]

Wot no Clacton On Sea?
Never seen or stepped in so much dog shit
in my life. And the whole place smells like
a scotch egg.

 

[mojo pixy]

Can I add this, because Portsmouth and Gosport are (it seems here at least) widely considered The Grimmest Place in the South. I wrote this years ago as part of a poetry project and it may be the only sonnet (albeit an experimental ABCDEFG ABCDEFG scheme of my own devise) ever written to Portsmouth.

Standing up here, I can see for miles!
Spread below, the land where I was born,
Mostly built now except here and there.
Patch of Green reclining in the breeze.
Far off island glinting in the sun,
Deep heavenly sky meets deeper blue -
Sea that fills the edges of my home.

On a boat returning to the isle,
Grey clouds racing over winter's dawn.
On my cheeks the salty, stinging air
Blowing me in, over deep black seas.
Far off rises from the horizon
That bright white cliff, ugly smile but true,
Calling ''Welcome back'' across the foam.

 

[mojo pixy]

I'll leave off about Pompey now. Other shitty channel ports are available.

I'm looking at you, Plymouth and Dover.

 

[Cpatain Rbubish]

I've not read the whole thread so forgive me if I'm stating the obvious. It's the smaller orbital towns that surround the worst offenders that are truly the grimmest...

I.E Portsmouth > Cosham, Fareham, Portchester, Southwick, Farlington and so on

Southampton > Totton, Hillyfields, Woolston, Sholling and so on

That's just a couple of candidates from the South Coast, don't get me started on Kent!

No real offence meant, but I've been and stayed (for work) in all these places so at least I type from the heart.