Southam
200311
220767349
2008-06-21T13:58:10Z
217.42.126.71
/* External links */
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox UK place |
|country = England
|official_name= Southam
|latitude= 52.252
|longitude= -1.39
|civil_parish= Southam
|population = 6,509 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])
|shire_district= [[Stratford-on-Avon (district)|Stratford-on-Avon]]
|shire_county= [[Warwickshire]]
|region= West Midlands
|constituency_westminster= [[Stratford-on-Avon (UK Parliament constituency)|Stratford-on-Avon]]
|post_town= SOUTHAM
|postcode_district = CV47
|postcode_area= CV
|dial_code= 01926
|os_grid_reference= SP417615
|static_image= [[Image:Market Hill 2, Southam.jpg|267px]]
|static_image_caption= <small>Market Hill, Southam ([[:Image:Market Hill, Southam.jpg|alternative view]])</small>
}}
'''Southam''' is a small [[market town]] in the [[Stratford-on-Avon (district)|Stratford-on-Avon district]] of [[Warwickshire]], [[England]]. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,509 in the town <ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do;jsessionid=ac1f930cce6fdd7c07e970544ee913cff5743b9a59c.e38Qa3mPbh4Kai0Lb34Na3uRbx0Re6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790540&bhjs=0 ONS parish headcounts]</ref> .
The nearest sizeable town to Southam is [[Leamington Spa]], located roughly 7 miles (11 km) to the west. The towns of [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] and [[Daventry]] are also within 10 miles (16km) of Southam, with [[Banbury]] 14 miles (22.5 km) to the south and the major city of [[Coventry]] some 13 miles (21 km) to the north.
Southam is located on the [[River Stowe]] (known by many of the locals as "The Brook"), which flows from [[Napton-on-the-Hill]] and joins the Warwickshire [[River Itchen, Warwickshire|River Itchen]] just outside of the town, which in turn flows into the [[River Leam]].
== History ==
Southam can trace its history back to [[Anglo-Saxon England|Anglo-Saxon]] times, a charter exists from [[998]] granted by King [[Ethelred the Unready]]. Southam was mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] as "''Sucham''" <ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>. A [[market]] was established in [[1227]]<ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>.
In the [[1540]]s the town was visited by [[John Leland]] who described it as 'a modest market town of a single street' <ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>. Southam is also mentioned in ''[[Henry VI, part 3]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]] in Act V, Scene I (Lines 10 - 16).
Southam has connections to the [[English Civil War]] - King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] passed through the town just prior to the outbreak of war, and apparently was not made welcome by the townsfolk who refused to ring the church bells<ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>.
On August 23rd 1642 a skirmish (battle) took place outside of the town between Parliamentary forces led by Lord Brooke and Royalist forces commanded by the Earl of Northampton.
Later in [[1642]] Charles stayed in Southam before the [[Battle of Edgehill]]<ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>. And in [[1645]], [[Oliver Cromwell]] stayed in the town along with 7,000 [[Roundhead]] troops <ref>Warwickshire Federation of Women's Institutes (2000) ''The Warwickshire Village Book'' ISBN 185306 6524</ref>.
In the days of the [[stagecoach]] Southam became an important stop on the coaching road from [[Coventry]] to [[Oxford]], and many old [[coaching inn]]s remain in the town<ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>. Few buildings in Southam date from before [[1741]], as in that year a large fire devastated the town<ref> Allen, Geoff, (2000) ''Warwickshire Towns & Villages'', ISBN 1 85058 642 X</ref>.
An unusual historical curiosity about Southam, is that in [[medieval]] times, Southam minted its own [[local currency]]. This was done because local people found ordinary coins too high in value for everyday use. The old mint house is now a pub called "the Old Mint". Also, during the Civil War King Charles used the mint to make new coins to pay his soldiers and keep them motivated.
Between 1894 and 1974 Southam was the administrative centre of the [[Southam Rural District]].
===Historic population===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year!!Population
|-
|[[1801]] || align="right"| 900
|-
|[[1901]] || align="right"| 1,800
|-
|[[1971]] || align="right"| 4,435
|-
|[[1991]] || align="right"| 5,304
|-
|[[2001]] || align="right"| 6,509
|}
==Economy==
Due to its good road links, Southam has become a commuter town in recent years due in part to its location. Taxi firms and minicab companies operate within the area and frequent bus services serve Southam and the local villages.
To the south of the town there is a small [[industrial estate]] which is a significant source of employment in Southam. Europe's largest privately owned video games company [[Codemasters]] is also based nearby.
The dominant rock type for the area is blue lias clay. Hence until quite recently there was a medium sized [[cement]] factory with associated [[quarry]]ing a mile north of the town. This works was served by both rail and canal transport - the latter being a short arm from the [[Grand Union Canal]]. Cement production was halted and moved to nearby [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], in the late-1990s. However, quarrying at the site continues.
== Facilities ==
Southam has three primary schools, and a secondary school (Southam College) that has around 1000 students from Southam and the local villages. There is a leisure centre with a swimming pool and gym next to the school. The shopping area of the town straddles the Coventry-Banbury road, now bypassed; at the southern end is Market Hill which hosts a [[Farmers' Market]] on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Every Tuesday there is a market in the Wood Street Car Park. There is a fair range of shops, including a couple of small supermarkets and several banks. The town's pubs include The Old Mint, one of the oldest inns in the county. Southam also has a retained fire station and a day-manned police station.
==Transport links==
Southam is located between [[Leamington Spa]] and [[Daventry]] (on the [[A425 road|A425]]) and between [[Coventry]] and [[Banbury]] (on the [[A423 road|A423]]). The [[A426 road|A426]] connects it to [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]]. Southam is roughly fifteen miles from [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], the birthplace of [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]. About eight miles from Southam is the [[M40 motorway]].
Southam was never directly served by a [[railway]] and had no station itself. However, the ex-[[London and North Western Railway|LNWR]] (later [[British Railways]]) line from [[Weedon Bec|Weedon]] to Leamington Spa ran a couple of miles to the north of Southam, the nearest station being [http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/southam.htm Southam & Long Itchington]. The [[Great Western Railway|GWR]] (later British Railways) London to Birmingham main line (the [[Chiltern Line]] as it is now called) passed three miles south-west of Southam and the nearest station was at [[Harbury]] ([http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/southamroadharbury.htm Southam Road & Harbury)]. Today, the closest railway station is at [http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/leamington_old_station.htm Leamington Spa].
== Famous people ==
Despite Southam's relatively small size it is home to two winners of the [[World Professional Darts Championship]]. [[Steve Beaton]] (in [[1996]]) and [[Trina Gulliver]] (in seven consecutive years between [[2001]] and [[2007]] for the women's championship). This success may be attributed to the fact that Southam has several [[Public House|pubs]].
The [[EastEnders]] actor [[Adam Woodyatt]] has a home in Southam, some considerable distance from [[Borehamwood]], [[Hertfordshire]], where the programme is filmed.
More recently, Sean Rumsey - last year's X-Factor Finalist in the boy band Futureproof is from the neighbouring village of Stockton.
==Nearby places==
*'''Nearby towns and cities''': [[Coventry]], [[Daventry]], [[Leamington Spa]], [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[Warwick]].
*'''Nearby villages''': [[Bishop's Itchington]], [[Broadwell, Warwickshire|Broadwell]], [[Harbury]], [[Kineton]], [[Ladbroke]], [[Long Itchington]], [[Napton-on-the-Hill]], [[Stockton, Warwickshire|Stockton]], [[Ufton]].
*'''Other locations''': [[Ufton Fields|Ufton Fields nature reserve]].
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==See also==
*[[wikisource:The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth#SCENE I. Coventry. Wikisource: William Shakespeare|Wikisource – ''The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth'' – Act V, Scene I]] - contains mentions of Southam.
==External links==
*[http://www.level-two.co.uk/report.php?locname=southam Inside Southam Cement Works]
*[http://www.warkcom.net/live/welcome.asp?id=58 Southam Online] – Town Website
*[http://harbury.villagebuzz.co.uk/ Villagebuzz] – Community website and forum for the area around Southam.
*[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/AreaProfileFrames.asp?aid=184320&hid=14&tid=14 2001 Census] – Summary information regarding population and households
{{Warwickshire}}
[[Category:Towns in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Market towns in England]]
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