Southam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southam |
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 Market Hill, at the centre of Southam |
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 Southam
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| Population | 8,114 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | SP4161 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHAM |
| Postcode district | CV47 |
| Dialling code | 01926 |
| Police | Warwickshire |
| Fire | Warwickshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Southam is a lively market town in Warwickshire, England. It's located about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east-southeast of Leamington Spa. In 2021, about 8,114 people lived in Southam. It's known as a "market town" because it has a long history of holding markets where people buy and sell goods.
Contents
Southam's Past: A Journey Through Time
Southam has a very old and interesting history! It was once a special area owned by the King until the year 998. Then, a powerful leader named Earl Leofwine was given control of it. Later, his son Leofric gave Southam to a church group called Coventry Priory.
The famous Domesday Book, a huge survey from 1086, recorded Southam as "Sucham". The Priory, which later became the first Coventry Cathedral, owned Southam for many centuries. But in the 1500s, during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the King took back all their lands, including Southam.
How Southam Became a Market Town
Southam grew because it was located where several important roads met. These roads included the main path between Coventry and Oxford, and another from Warwick to Northampton. There was also an old path called Welsh Road, used by people moving animals.
In 1227, the monks from Coventry Priory were given permission to hold a market in Southam. This helped the town grow into a busy market center. Southam also received special permission to hold three big fairs each year. These fairs were like huge markets that happened only a few times a year. They attracted buyers and sellers from far away, making Southam an important trading spot.
The Holy Well: A Special Spring
Southam has a special place called the Holy Well. It's in a beautiful valley by the River Stowe. This well was first mentioned way back in 998! For hundreds of years, it was the main source of water for the town.
Water from a natural spring flows into the well and out through stone carvings that look like faces. People used to say that the water from the Holy Well could help cure eye problems. The well and its paths were made new again between 2005 and 2007, thanks to a special grant.
Historic Buildings and Royal Visits
Southam has some very old buildings. The town's manor house, right in the center, was built in the 1500s. The main church, St James', was built in the 1300s. Over the years, parts of the church were added, like its tall spire in the 1400s and a new roof in the 1500s. St James' Church is considered a very important historic building.
In the 1540s, a visitor named John Leland described Southam as a "modest market town of a single street." Even the famous writer William Shakespeare mentioned Southam in one of his plays, Henry VI, part 3!
Southam During the English Civil War
During the English Civil War in the 1600s, Southam played a small but interesting role. King Charles I used a building in Southam to make new coins to pay his soldiers. This building, called the Mint, was built in the early 1500s and is now a pub called The Olde Mint.
King Charles I passed through Southam just before the war began. It's said the townspeople weren't very welcoming and didn't even ring the church bells for him! On August 23, 1642, a small fight happened just outside Southam between the King's soldiers (Royalists) and Parliament's soldiers (Roundheads). Some locals believe this was the very first battle of the English Civil War! Later that year, King Charles stayed at the Manor House in Southam before a bigger battle. In 1645, Oliver Cromwell, another important leader, and 7,000 of his soldiers also stayed in the town.
A Town Rebuilt After Fire
In the past, Southam was an important stop for stagecoaches traveling between Coventry and Oxford. Many old inns where coaches used to stop are still in the town today. However, most buildings in Southam don't date back before 1741. This is because a huge fire destroyed much of the town that year.
During World War II, there was an airfield called RAF Southam just east of the town. It was used for training pilots and as a place for planes to land if they needed to.
Southam's Location and Surroundings
Southam is about 9.5 miles (15 km) southwest of Rugby and 9.5 miles (15 km) west of Daventry. It's also about 13 miles (21 km) south-southeast of Coventry and 14 miles (23 km) north of Banbury.
The town is located on the River Stowe. This river flows from a place called Napton-on-the-Hill and joins another river, the River Itchen, just outside Southam.
Southam's Economy: Jobs and Businesses
For many years, Southam had a large cement factory and a quarry (a place where stone is dug out of the ground) about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the town. The factory used a type of rock called Blue Lias limestone. The cement works closed in 2000, but quarrying still happens there. The old factory buildings were taken down in 2011.
Southam is also part of an area known as "Silicon Spa." This area around Leamington Spa is famous for its many video game companies. One of these companies, Codemasters, is based in Southam. It was started by two local people and grew to be Europe's largest privately owned computer games company before it was bought by another company in 2021.
South of the town, there's an industrial estate with many businesses. This provides a lot of jobs for people living in Southam. Because of its good road connections, many people also live in Southam and travel to work in nearby towns.
What Southam Offers: Facilities and Fun
Schools and Learning
Southam has three primary schools for younger children. It also has a large secondary school called Southam College, which has over 1,600 students from Southam and nearby villages. Next to the College, there's a leisure center with a swimming pool and a gym, perfect for staying active!
Shopping and Markets
The main shopping area in Southam is around High Street and Market Hill in the town center. Since the 1990s, a French street market has been held on High Street, bringing a taste of France to Southam! It started up again in 2022 after being paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Churches and Community
Southam has four churches: St James' parish church, Our Lady and St Wulstan's Catholic church, the Congregational chapel, and the Community Church. There's also a small but active Bahá´í group in the town. A popular walking path goes from St James' church through the beautiful Stowe valley to the historic Holy Well. It's a great route for locals and people who enjoy watching birds and nature.
Sports and Recreation
Southam has several sports clubs for people who love to play!
- Southam Rugby Club was started in 1962. They bought their own pitches in 1969 and built their clubhouse, mostly with help from the players themselves! Today, they have several teams.
- Southam United F.C. is the town's association football (soccer) club.
- There's also a bowling club and a cricket club.
- The Dallas Burston Polo Club has six polo pitches, plus places for conferences and a pub.
Southam is also home to 2028 (Southam) Squadron Air Training Corps. This is a youth group sponsored by the Royal Air Force for young people aged 13 to 20.
There are many footpaths around Southam that go through fields and woods. These paths let you explore the countryside and reach nearby villages without needing to use roads much.
Parks and Play Areas
Southam has a main recreational ground, often called 'the Rec', on Park Lane. It has a large open field for ball games and a special area with different kinds of play equipment for children, including a separate section for very young kids. Another park is at Tollgate Road, known as 'Tollgate'. A small zoo used to be in the town from 1966 to 1985.
Getting Around: Transport in Southam
Roads
Southam is located on the A425 road between Leamington Spa and Daventry. The A423 road connects it to Coventry and Banbury, and the A426 road goes to Rugby. The M40 motorway is about 7.5 miles (12 km) south of Southam, making it easy to travel to bigger cities.
Bus services run regularly, connecting Southam to Leamington, Rugby, and some local villages.
Railways
Southam doesn't have its own train station right in the town, but the closest ones are in Leamington Spa, Rugby, and Banbury.
In the past, there were two train stations a few miles from Southam. One was called Southam Road and Harbury, which opened in 1852 and closed in 1964. The other was Southam and Long Itchington station, which opened in 1895 and closed in 1958 for passengers.
A new high-speed train line, called High Speed 2, will pass just south of Southam. However, it won't have any stations between London and Birmingham.
Famous People from Southam
Many interesting people have connections to Southam:
- Sir Charles Allfrey: A British Army commander who fought in both World War I and World War II.
- Steve Beaton: A professional darts player who won the World Professional Darts Championship in 1996.
- Arthur Cox: A football manager who led teams like Newcastle United and Derby County. He was born in Southam in 1939.
- Richard and David Darling: These brothers founded the award-winning video game company Codemasters in 1986. Their main office is still in Southam.
- Jon Egging: A former member of the Red Arrows display team, who was once an Air Cadet in Southam.
- Trina Gulliver: A nine-time women's World Professional Darts Champion.
- Henry Lilley Smith: He started a small hospital in Southam in 1823.
- Steve Walwyn: A guitarist for the band Dr. Feelgood, born in Southam in 1956.
- Justin Welby: The current Archbishop of Canterbury, who used to be the Rector (a type of priest) in Southam.
- Adam Woodyatt: An actor famous for his role in the TV show EastEnders, who lived in Southam for many years.
Twin Town
Southam is "twinned" with a town in France called Marolles-en-Hurepoix. This twinning started in 1992 and helps build friendships and understanding between the two communities.
Images for kids
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Market Hill, at the centre of Southam
See also
In Spanish: Southam (Warwickshire) para niños
