' Enjoy a trip through this charming market town’s past ...’
Southam is a small historic coaching and market town situated in the heart of rural Warwickshire. It is also the home of Warwickshire Polo with the superb Dallas Burston Polo Grounds situated on the edge of the town.
The town is first mentioned at the end of the 10th century, although there were probably earlier Anglo Saxon and Roman settlements. It was a stopping place on the route of the Welsh Drovers and later coaching routes to London. Today the town retains many interesting historical buildings and has been designated as a conservation area.
You can see places of historical and modern interest by following ’The Southam Heritage Trail’ - a brochure is available from Tourist Information at the Town Library.
History of Southam
Interestingly in medieval times, Southam minted its own local currency as the local people found ordinary coins too high in value for everyday use. Southam was the site of a Civil War skirmish in 1642 when the town was surrounded by 13,000 troops, Southam’s Manor (now the chemists shop) was host to King Charles I, who is said to also have minted coins here for his troops after the battle of Edgehill in 1642. The Old Mint 14th century stone building still stands and is now a popular pub.
Southam and it’s ’Halliwell’ (now The Holy Well) were first mentioned in 998 when it was granted to the Priory of Coventry by King Ethelred, but there were probably Anglo-Saxon and Roman settlements even earlier.
Mentioned as ’Suham’ in the Domesday Book, Southam was granted a charter in the 13th century when St. James’ church was built. In 1227 the Prior obtained a statute allowing Southam a weekly market (weekly markets are still held today along with a monthly Farmers marke). The water from the Holy Well was said to cure eye ailments, with the well considered to be of such importance to the people of the town that it was excluded from the Enclosure Act of 1761.
St James Church was founded in 1294. It has windows of varied designs, a broach spire and interesting carvings including four Green Men. In addition to St James’ Church an independent chapel was built in Pendicke Street and a Congregational Church in Wood Street. The Roman Catholic church was built in 1925.
The Lilley Smith Memorial marks the site of the country’s first free Provident Dispensary established in 1818. The Stoneythorpe Hotel next door was originally the Eye and Ear Infirmary, founded by the same local surgeon.
Much of Southam was destroyed by four fires in the 1740’s when 30 houses were burnt. These were replaced and Southam now has many interesting historic buildings. Southam’s first gas supply was introduced in 1853 with electricity following in 1924. The Holywell and other springs were used for water supply until mains were connected in the 1920’s.
