Publications

We are fortunate that there is a growing number of publications available about the history of the town and surrounding area.

We are not yet able to have a fully-fledged shopping page but we list several items on this page which we hope will be of interest to you.

Please read carefully how to purchase any item that you are interested in.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE LEFT SOUTH LODGE SO THAT PUBLICATIONS WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE THERE.
WE ARE NOW AT THE BAND FACTORY, ALTHORPE STREET ON MOST TUESDAY MORNINGS. 
WE ARE RESTARTING MEETINGS AT THE BAND FACTORY FROM 1st MARCH 2022

Back Street Kid

Part memoir and part local history, this book tells the story of a little girl who was born and raised in one of Leamington’s back-street slums during the middle years of the twentieth century.

Those who lived in the back-streets, or former pupils of St. Peter’s School, Leamington Girls College or Clapham Terrace Senior School may find the book of particular interest.

Price £12.99

Radford Semele, A History in Photos

A Radford Semele man used old photographs in book about the village’s history. 

Anthony Hitchcox has put together a collection of photographs belonging to residents “with the aim of taking a historic look back at the village from the lens of a camera”.

New local history book on Radford Semele – £15.

The book may me purchased from the Village Store in Lewis Road in Radford Semele or ring the author, Anthony Hitchcox on 07811 893473.

Milton Woodward

A Sensational New Book!  For several decades author David Budd (MIMC Gold Star) collected information on his friends and magical mentors, Milton Woodward and Millicent Cooper

WHO? Never heard of them? Delve into this book and you will come to know two of magic and variety’s most popular performers, from the 1930s into the 1960s.  Between them they produced some of the finest magic acts seen on British stages and in cabaret. Millicent also scored with her amazing quick-change of 18 dresses in as many minutes, all genuine and not mechanical!

In this biographical collection of stories and events, (relayed within 128 pages with more than 130 illustrations, many in colour) author David Budd (along with Editor Donald Bevan and Designer John Hawkins) conveys a true feel to the collective description ‘Showbusiness’, coupled with tales of success, failure and triumph. Read about: When magic goes wrong! When the rabbit would not play! How a lady’s borrowed ring vanished— and involved police! What happened when an illusion cabinet moved on stage — of its own accord! Tales of recalcitrant stage-hands and grotty Stage Managers. It’s all here.

Tricks? No, there are no tricks revealed as millions of books worldwide do that in great abundance. Instead, this book offers an entertaining journey on which you are cordially invited! ENJOY!

TO ORDER: Contact Janet Budd,   mwoodbud@gmail.com  Phone 07856 862977

£16.00 + £3.95 p&p UK, overseas at cost. Very limited edition—DO IT NOW!

Global Leamington

Global Leamington, the latest publication from the Leamington History Group, takes a fresh view of the history of the town. It looks beyond the familiar stories of the development of the Spa to highlight international connections and the emergence of the multi-cultural community the characterizes the town today. Edited by Stella Bolitho, Michael Jeffs and Ben Richardson, the book contains a varied collection of 58 articles reflecting different periods of the town’s history which were shaped by the people and ideas which came into the town, and those that left to travel across the globe.

Books are currently available for £20.
Order from the Leamington History Group at
secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk  or
on 07587 022366, or
message through Leamington History Group Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/skybluebaz96

The Ironmen of Leamington

A long-term joint research project by Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society and Leamington History Group has come to fruition with the publication of “The Ironmen of Leamington”. The team was led by Martin Green and Mick Jeffs and looked at the story of iron objects produced in the town and the people who made them in the nineteenth century. Examples of the products include coal-hole covers, balconies and railings and vast cooking ranges. It is probably no surprise to learn that the firm of Flavel was the only one which survived and thrived into the next century; this Eagle Works is now run by Rangemaster.

The book has 203 pages and is well illustrated with many images in colour.
The price is £18

It was published on 29th April 2019.

Copies are available at our meetings at The Band Factory at 9.30am to 11.30 am on most Tuesday mornings OR at Waterstones OR at our monthly meetings – View Details Here

In case of difficulty please contact our  Secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk

Royal Leamington Spa: A History in 100 Buildings

This book by Leamington History Group relates a selected history of the town by telling the story of 100 buildings from their construction to the present day or their date of demolition and what replaced them.
The articles usually include details of the buildings themselves, the architects and builders of them and some of the people who lived in, or used, them.
There are also potted histories which give a wider picture of some major types of buildings such as churches and schools.

The book has 288 pages, 210 illustrations (40 in colour) and six maps. The cover price is £20.

HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY
The book is available at The Band Factory in Althorpe Street  on most Tuesday mornings, 9.30 am to 11.30 am or
At our Monthly Meetings in Dormer Hall or
Contact our Secretary at  Secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk

CLICK HERE to see our full announcement.

The Ambitious Stonemason 
(William Gascoyne’s rôle in the development of Royal Leamington Spa and a changing Construction Industry)

This is a new book by LHG member Kevin Hunt, who lives in the Willes Road house built and owned by William Gascoyne. It is a novel based on facts uncovered during Kevin’s extensive research into the life and times of the man who built much of 19th Century Leamington.

The novel traces Gascoyne’s life, from his early days in Stony Stratford, his apprenticeship and life in the building trade, to active membership of the Leamington Board of Health and becoming a prominent and well-respected local businessman.  William Gascoyne built the mansion that became Kingsley School, the flamboyant Harrington House, and other villas on Newbold Terrace, much of Binswood Avenue (Lillington Road end) and Villiers Street.  He also transformed the Bedford Hotel for the Warwick and Leamington Bank and built St Peter’s Church on Dormer Place. The Salvation Army Citadel was the last of his legacy to the town.

Sadly, as a result of financial difficulties, William Gascoyne was declared bankrupt in 1866 and had to resign his position as an Alderman.  He moved to Beckenham in Kent, but never recovered his early prestige.

Kevin Hunt has drawn a fascinating portrait of this significant contributor to the life and times of Victorian Leamington, – he tells a great story, with skill and sensitivity. It isn’t hard for the reader to sympathise with William Gascoyne’s eventual plight.

The Ambitious Stonemason: William Gascoyne’s rôle in the development of Royal Leamington Spa and a changing Construction Industry. Kevin Hunt, November 2020.

Available from Amazon Books, in Paperback (£6.99) or on Kindle (1.99)

Shrubland Street, Royal Leamington Spa 

Local author Allan Jennings is published this book in July 2021.

“Shrubland Street, Royal Leamington Spa – a street, a school, a real community” is 360 pages in length, has taken 16 years to research, has over 500 photographs and images, as well as detailed information about the street, and many of the people who lived in the ‘old’ street, the school and the Eagle Rec.  As the school has had a long standing association with St. John’s Church in Tachbrook Street, there is also a potted history of the church and Wise Hall.

Allan says, “There are other streets in Royal Leamington Spa that were also ‘proper’ communities, where generations lived in the same street and where they went to the same school, but this book is about the one that I know about, Shrubland Street.  So, have a little browse, get a little nostalgic if you lived there or went to ‘Shrubs’, and if neither applies, that’s ok, maybe you’ll learn something about a proper community street that many people look back on with great fondness.”

There will be two launch events at the ‘Plough and Harrow’ pub at Whitnash –
Friday 16th July: at 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm and
Monday 19th July: at 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

The book will then be available from local bookshops from Monday, 19th July 2021 at the retail price of £20 – and will also be available direct from Allan at £15.  Contact:  allan.jennings1@ntlworld.com

Leamington’s Czech Patriots

This booklet by Alan Griffin and Mindy Chillery explains the story behind the Memorial Fountain in the shape of a parachute in the Jephson Gardens. This was a chilling and neglected episode in the Second World War.

It is available from our Secretary at secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk or at the The Band Factory on most Tuesday mornings.

Royal Leamington Spa Home Guard Factory Units of WW2 – A Personal Diary

David Morse has published this small book; it costs £8 including P & P from him, and he can be contacted at dgpmorse@btinternet.com

A Local Book to Help the NHS:
Colour “Sketches” of Royal Leamington Spa and surrounding area

Local historian and member of Leamington History Group, Allan Jennings, has been inspired to put together a book of 114 coloured photographic ‘sketches’ as a way of raising money for the Intensive Care Unit at Warwick Hospital to recognise their efforts in helping people with Covid-19.

The book is now on sale at Waterstones for £15.

Two local history books published in September 2019

Local historians Allan Jennings, Tom Lewin and Peter Coulls published two books.

Allan and Tom have written ‘Shops of Royal Leamington Spa’, a 120-page book
that is about nostalgia, photos and history and includes Toytown, Francis,
Woolworth’s, Bailey’s, Sabin’s, Alf Jones, Frettons, Renton’s, Summerton’s,
the Penny Pop shop, Harry Russell’s do-it-yourself shop and many many more.
CLICK HERE for list of all the shops in the book.

Allan and Peter have written a comprehensive history of ‘The Leamington and
Warwick Tramway’ which last ran in 1930.  It includes details of the horse
drawn and electric trams that travelled between the two towns for 49 years.
Again, it includes many images along the route.  This book will appeal to
local historians, transport historians, industrial archaeologists, people
with an interest in the history of the two towns and others who will just
enjoy checking out the old postcards and photographs.  These books will be
ideal for birthday and Christmas presents.

The retail price of the Shops book is £15.95 and is only available from Waterstones, Leamington Spa.

The Trams book can be obtained from Allan Jennings and Peter Coulls for  £10.95 each or from Waterstones, Leamington Spa for £15.95.

For further information contact –

Allan Jennings: allan.jennings1@ntlworld.com or

Tom Lewin: lewthomas48@gmail.com or

Peter Coulls petercoulls@btinternet.com

Brass Bands of Warwickshire

by Kenneth G Owen

This book is available for £10 from Kenneth or at LHG Meetings or at The Band Factory on most Tuesday mornings between 9.30 am and 11.30 am.

People, Pubs and Clubs of Royal Leamington Spa, Pictorial Books 3 and 4

Following the success of three previous books on the pubs of Leamington Spa, authors Allan Jennings, Tom Lewin and Martin Ellis have published two new pictorial books.

These books are the third & fourth sequels to Pubs of Royal Leamington Spa [Two Centuries of History], a comprehensive account of the town’s pubs dating back to the late 1700s which was published in 2014.

Since their inception, the local pubs and clubs have been the social hub of each community – albeit to a lesser extent today – and a meeting place for sporting clubs, other associations and the fielding of its own teams [e.g. darts, dominos] in local leagues.

While the photographs included in “Two Centuries of History” were predominantly exterior views of the premises, the pictorial books mainly feature the subjects that gave each pub it’s unique atmosphere, their landlords, landladies and “locals”.

Pictorials 1 & 2 were both 32 pages – the new books will each comprise 100 pages and now include clubs. Each book includes over 200 photographs on the social aspect of many of the town’s pubs; these publications are all about nostalgia – maybe you are included in one of the photos or maybe you will recognise ancestors, family or friends, or recall the event represented. A fascinating insight to bygone days.

The books retail at £12.95 each, but can be bought for £20 for both [a saving of £5.90] if purchased from the authors.

People & Pubs of Royal Leamington Spa – A Pictorial – Books 1 & 2

These two books are the sequel to “Pubs of Royal Leamington Spa [Two Centuries of History]”, a comprehensive account of the town’s pubs dating back to the late 1700s – compiled by the same authors and published in 2014.

Since their inception, the local pub has been the social hub of each community – albeit to a lesser extent today – and a meeting place for sporting clubs, other associations and the fielding of its own teams [e.g. darts, dominos] in local leagues. While the photographs included in “Two Centuries of History” were predominantly exterior views of the premises, these two pictorial histories features the subjects that gave each pub it’s unique atmosphere – their landlords, landladies and ‘locals’. Including over 50 photographs in each book on the social aspect of many of the town’s pubs, these publications are all about nostalgia – maybe you are included in one BookPeople & Pubs 2 Cover (1)of the photos or maybe you will recognise ancestors, family or friends or recall the event represented. A fascinating insight to bygone days.

Authors: Allan Jennings, Martin Ellis & Tom Lewin
Publishing date: September 2015
Retail price: £8.95 each
Contact: Allan Jennings – Email: allan.jennings1@ntlworld.com or Tom Lewin – Email: lewthomas48@gmail.com

The Bombing of Royal Leamington Spa

NOTE that this book has now sold out.

For some 75 years the complete story of the bombing of Royal Leamington Spa during the Second World War has been a story waiting to be told. Were we bombed? If so, how many times? Did anyone die? How many, what were their names? Why wasn’t the information published at the end of the war?

Local author and historian Allan Jennings has researched the detail for a fascinating insight into a frightening time for the local population.

A welcome and long awaited book that is a must for anyone with an interest in the history of Royal Leamington Spa.

Author: Allan Jennings
Publishing date: September 2015
Retail price: £9.95 + P&P
Contact: Allan Jennings – Email: allan.jennings1@ntlworld.com 

 

The Springs, Wells and Baths of Royal Leamington Spa

There is no doubt that Spa water stands out as the main reason why the tiny village of Leamington Priors developed into a town.
Without it the town we know and love today would probably not exist. Nowadays, very few people ‘take the waters’, and when they do it is usually just spat out in disgust.

Local historian, Allan Jennings has delved into the archives to research the story so that you can see just what the fuss was all about!
Spa water is part of our history, and in the case of the Royal Pump Rooms part of our present and future.

A comprehensive and informative local history book for you, your family and your bookshelf.

Author: Allan Jennings
Publishing date: September 2015
Retail price: £9.95 + P&P
Contact: Allan Jennings – Email: allan.jennings1@ntlworld.com 

 

A History of the Brass Bands of Royal Leamington Spa

Ken Owen has a few copies of his book on brass bands still available.

Author: Kenneth Owen
Price: £10
Available from the author at kenneth.owen4@homecall.co.uk

 

A Celebration of Sydenham

The Sydenham History Group has noted that Sydenham celebrated its 50th birthday in 2014 and has written and published this book. It relates many events in the history of the area. Among many other details it relates the origin of the name, the story of the farm on the site, the first houses designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd and the present-day district with three schools, two pubs and 60 factory units.

To purchase ‘ A Celebration of Sydenham’ please contact Nigel Briggs by email at briggs9@tiscali.co.uk or telephone: 01926 330711
Price is £4.95 if collected or £6.20 if posted.

Copies are also available for purchase, price £4.95, from the Leamington Art Gallery and Museum counter (not the Tourist Information desk) and the SYDNI Centre, Cottage Square, (off Marloes Walk) Sydenham, CV31 1PT.

 

Pubs of Royal Leamington Spa – Two Centuries of History

Our members Allan Jennings and Tom Lewin, along with colleague Martin Ellis, have published their much anticipated book Pubs of Royal Leamington Spa – Two Centuries of History – Published by Brewin Books of Studley ISBN 9 781858 585222.

Many books have been written about Leamington’s history, but this one is unique – it is the first to document the history of its pubs. The authors have painstakingly researched more than 200 years of history tracking back to a time in the late 1700s when the small village of Leamington Priors had around 300 residents and just 2 inns. At 429 pages long with more than 220 entries and 250 illustrations, this comprehensive work traces the number of co-existing pubs from just 2 to a peak of over 100 before the progressive decline to less than 60 at the end of 2013; opening/closing dates, licensee listings and snippets of social history are also included. Whether you are a serious historian, a nostalgic Leamingtonian with a hankering for the local pubs of bygone days or someone who will just enjoy checking out the photos over a quiet pint, this is the book for you. This book is now only available from Waterstones bookshop in Leamington Spa.

More information is available from Allan on allan.jennings1@ntlworld.com

Warwick: Exploring with a Sketchbook

Mick Jeffs, one of our members, published this book about Warwick. It is in the style of a graphic novel (a posh name for a comic book) and tells the story of Warwick in four walks from 914 AD. It is illustrated with over 300 of Mick’s drawings and is 112 pages. Cover price £10.

SALE! This book is now available at £5. It is suitable for children and all ages.  ISBN 9 780956 277329.

It is available from bookshops and may also be ordered from Mick at www.shaybooks.co.uk