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This is about the English town of Southam. For the Canadian newspaper chain see Southam Newspapers. There is also a village in Gloucestershire called Southam, see Southam, Gloucestershire
Southam is a small market town in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a population of 6,509 in the town, around 2000 people live in the local villages that surround it.
The nearest large town to Southam is Leamington Spa located roughly 7 miles (11 km) east of the town. The towns of Rugby and Daventry are also within 10 miles (16km) of Southam.
Southam is located on the River Stowe, which flows from Napton-on-the-Hill and joins the Warwickshire River Itchen which in turn flows into the River Leam.
Transport links
Southam is located between Leamington Spa and Daventry (on the A425) and between Coventry and Banbury (on the A423). The A426 connects it to Rugby. Southam is roughly fifteen miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare. About four miles from Southam is the M40 motorway.
Southam was never directly served by a railway and had no station itself. However, the ex-LNWR (later British Railways) line from Weedon to Leamington Spa ran a couple of miles to the north of Southam, the nearest station being Southam & Long Itchington. The 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. Today, the closest railway station is at Leamington Spa.
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 next to the school. The shopping area of the town straddles the Coventry-Banbury road, now bypassed; at the southern end is Market Square. 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.
Economy
Due to its good transport 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.
The dominant rock type for the area is blue lias clay. Hence until quite recently there was a medium sized cement factory with associated quarrying 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, in the late-1990s. However, quarrying at the site continues.
Famous People
Despite Southam's small size it is home to two winners of the World Professional Darts Championship. Steve Beaton (in 1996) and Trina Gulliver (in 2001, 2002 and 2003 for the women's championship). This success may be attributed to the fact that Southam has several pubs.
History
Southam can trace its history back to Anglo-Saxon times and it is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Southam has connections to the English Civil War - King 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.
Later in 1642 he stayed in Southam before the Battle of Edgehill. And in 1645, Oliver Cromwell stayed in the town along with 7,000 Roundhead troops.
In the days of the stagecoach Southam became an important stop on the coaching road from Coventry to Oxford, and many old coaching inns remain in the town.
An unnusual 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".
Southam is also mentioned in Henry VI, part 3 by William Shakespeare in Act V, Scence I (Lines 10 - 16):
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
Duke of Somerset At Southam I did leave him with his forces,
And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heard]
War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum.
Som. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies:
The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
Historic population
External Links
- Southam Online (http://www.warkcom.net/live/welcome.asp?id=58) - Town Website
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