Attempted Murder?
Attempted Murder? - Roland Raffell - July 2025
Among the many more minor offences committed in Southam in the 1840s, one more serious crime stands out in the career of Inspector George Smallbones. This was reported ...
Two Convictions for Inspector Smallbones
Two Convections for Inspector Smallbones - Roland Raffell - June 2025
In 1855, the final year of Inspector George Smallbones’ time in Southam, one of the few cases of passing counterfeit coins in the division was brought ...
Bendigo Mitchell, Highwayman: History or Myth?
Bendigo Mitchell, Highwayman: History or Myth - Roland Raffell - May 2025
There are numerous legends of highwaymen who terrorised travellers across the country, but were they all real, heinous criminals with little regard for their victims, or ...
A Quart of Ale (continued)
A Quart of Ale (continued) - Roland Raffell - April 2025
In nineteenth century Southam it was recognised that there were ‘… drunkards who go in and get drunk week after week. They are known ...
Growing Up in Long Itchington – Edna Beck
Growing Up in Long Itchington - Edna Beck - Feb 2025
My youngest sister, Amy, was born in the thatched cottage on the Green where Mum and Dad lived for fifty-two years. I remember ...
Pre-war and WW2 Memories – Edna Beck
Pre-war and WW2 Memories - Edna Beck - Richard Clarke - January 2025
I was born in my Gran's back bedroom in Church Street, Marton, the second daughter of Louis and Violet Stevens. The Stevens family were residents of ...
Recusancy: Defiance of the Established Church
Recusancy: Defiance of the Established Church - Roland Raffell - Dec 2024
Recusant was the name given to Roman Catholics and persons of other faiths who refused to attend Church of England services. The term was mainly ...
Seth Bond, Local Hero
Seth Bond, Local Hero - Bernard Cadogan - Sept 2024
“Into the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred” are perhaps two of the most memorable and famous lines in British poetry. The poem, “The Charge of the Light ...
Smallpox in Southam
Smallpox in Southam - Dr Roland Raffell - Nov 2023
In the early part of 1765 in Southam, a series of tragedies involving the deaths of many people affected the town. The majority of these ...
Southam Zoo
Southam Zoo - Linda Doyle - Oct 2023
I moved to Southam in October 1975 and was interested to find the Zoo on the Daventry Road on the edge of town. It had been open to the public since 1966 ...
The ‘Battle’ of Southam 1775
The 'Battle' of Southam 1775 - Dr Roland Raffell - Sept 2023
In 1774 the building of the Oxford Canal reached Napton. The canal was routed around three sides of Napton Hill to save building ...
Southam Heritage Collection: How it all began
Southam's Heritage Collection: How it all began - Bernard Cadogan - Aug 2023
On Friday 18 August the volunteers of the Southam Heritage Collection invite you to one of their regular coffee mornings at St James’ Church. For anyone who has not previously attended ...