Swaythling passenger cars in the UK, leaving the Southampton made Transit as their only British-made vehicle. In 2009, with the new Kocaeli, Turkey, plant in full production, Ford reluctantly halved production at Southampton and reduced the workforce to just over 500. Employing 500 workers, the factory produced up to 35,000 Transit chassis/cab variant vehicles annually, of which 50% were exported. The Ford Southampton plant closed on 26 July 2013. The very first branch of the DIY chain B&Q was opened in Swaythling in 1969. The shop was owned by Messrs Block and Quayle. Swaythling railway station is on the main line
David Richard Morier David Richard Morier David Richard Morier (1784–1877) was an English diplomat. The third son of Isaac Morier, consul-general to the Turkey Company at Constantinople, he was born in Smyrna on 8 January 1784, was educated at Harrow School, and entered the diplomatic service. In January 1804, at age 20, he was appointed secretary to the political mission sent by the British government to Ali Pasha and the Turkish governors of the Morea and other provinces, with a view to counteracting the influence of France in south-east Europe. In May 1807 he was ordered to take entire charge of the mission,