In reply to Wiley Coyote:
Thanks again. Just put details into directline (which does not allow itself to be included on comparison site calculations and got a fairly low quote but just making a few little changes on excess and contents insurance for away from home and accidental damage etc, soon hiked it up pretty high! Well worth looking at every little thing, obviously, and (as for car insurance) pondering how to do the excess.
Still cheaper than Towergate though, even with some IMHO over-the-top "extras".
A lot of cheapies on moneysavingexpert's results but I've not heard of any of the companies. Starting at around £250 and in increasing order:
getcover.co.uk
thepolicyshop
homeprotect (underwritten by AXA)
AIM
Homeinsurer.co.uk
quotelinedirect
QuoteYourHome
HomeQuoteDirect
PerformanceDirect Home
Easy Insure
fresh! insurance
One Call Insurance
iGo (maybe I have heard of them actually)
grove & dean
and then we are at Halifax and Lloyds and up at £580ish. Still better than Towergate, mind!