[1] Southam is at the foot of Cleeve Hill, the highest point of the Cotswolds, and is part of Tewkesbury Borough.

In 1487, after the Battle of Stoke, Henry VII honoured Sir Richard de la Bere with a bannerette.

Kinnair de la Bere married Sir John Huddleston's daughter and settled down at the bannerette of Southam where he built a manor house, at the foot of the hill in a fertile valley which was surrounded by forest and named it Southam House.

[5] Renovations and additions to the old manor house were made in Gothic and neo-Norman architectural style between 1833 and 1871 by Baron Ellenborough who was formerly Governor General of India.

The western end has the "Great Hall at the centre with two tall 4-light stone-mullioned casements with king mullions, diamond leaded panes, heraldic glass and a continuous hood; projecting gabled 2-storey porch to the left."

[6] The structure is built in the early Tudor style from Cotswold stone, with architectural features of the times such as turrets, arches and towers.

[11] Many of the original furnishings remain including the 16th century oak beams, staircases and fireplaces but it has undergone much modernisation with up-to-date devices.

Notable rooms mentioned are the Woodland Court and The Istabraq Suite, which was the original Great Hall of the main house of the manor.

[4] The largest room though is the De la Bere Court on the ground floor of the main house, which is a vaulted glass atrium with patio doors opening out onto the lawn.