Alternative accommodation for Southam households

Southam stands on the River Stowe, a tributary of the Itchen that rises at Napton-on-the-Hill and joins the Itchen at Stoneythorpe just outside the town. Its protected valley runs past the Holy Well and is a favourite walk for birdwatchers and naturalists.

With only around eight thousand residents, Southam has little in the way of family-sized short stays, so a household put out of its home by water or fire often has to look further afield.

From Southam, Humber Hub is about 12 miles by road and Sullivan Heights about 14 miles. Each house gives every member of the family a bed of their own, a table to eat round together and a washing machine for the clothes that came out of the house.

A loss adjuster or claims handler can make the booking on the household's behalf. The claim number goes on the pro-forma invoice and if the builders run late a fresh pro-forma extends the stay.

Southam has four churches, from St James's behind Market Hill to the Community Church on Coventry Street. A small Bahá'í group meets in the town too.

Fire has shaped the town before: few of Southam's buildings date from before 1741, when a large fire devastated it.