Webmaster 1700s William and Sarah Bone lived in Saltisford Warwick in the late 1700’s. They were married around 1790 with their first child being born in 1793. Their fifth child Hannah was born on 21st April 1805. Sarah outlived William and died in Saltisford in 1848 aged 82 1805 Hannah Bone remained all her life in … Read more
Ron Ransford is a very well-known figure in Leamington. For many years, his family ran a building/demolition/recycling business in the town, and Ron has personally “seen off” a number of old Leamington landmarks during his working life.If you want to know where some significant artefact or piece of equipment from a long-vanished Leamington building, Ron … Read more
8th March 1876 – 20th August 1969 Florence Agnes Hughes started working life as an asylum nurse at Hatton Hospital, married William Angle, a Minton tile fixer from Staffordshire, at Warwick in the autumn of 1906, and emigrated with him to America, in search of a new life. They must have made a striking couple. … Read more
Ethel Rosalie Harraden (Mrs Frank Glover) – 1857-1917. Ethel Rosalie Harraden was born in Islington, the older daughter of Samuel Harraden, a London and Calcutta Agent, and also a musician. She was reputed to have begun composing at the age of five, and later studied at the Royal Academy under Sir Sterndale Bonnett and Dr Dorell. … Read more
A few memories of a child in wartime by Eva Sabin, nee Kilby. I grew up in Kilby’s shop in High Street. We lived above the shop with my grandparents who owned it. My first recollection of the Second World War is a Sunday morning in the shop with my mother listening to the speech declaring … Read more
Jane Wray Gowns – Victoria Colonnade, Royal Leamington Spa Although the elegant figure on the left may not be instantly recognisable, many older Leamingtonians will remember her as ‘Jane Wray’, owner of the fashionable dress shop in the Colonnade. She was my mother, Mrs Jane Wheatley, seen here at home in Lansdowne Circus,modelling one of her … Read more
Eric chats about his long and varied life, as a window dresser, costume designer at the RSC, interior design specialist, entrepreneur and restaurateur. 51 mins. 57MB mp3 file. This recording was made as part of the “History @ Bath Place” project, 2007-9. eric-shadbolt
Betty is a “foreigner”: she came to live in Leamington at the age of 10, and found it all very different from where she had grown up. She gives her impressions of Bath Place School in 1938, dancing at the Palais in the 40s, and working as a typist at Ford’s. 52 mins. 54MB mp3 … Read more
Dorothy started working life in service, then worked at the Midland Counties Home for Incurables. She recounts what it was like to work there. 41 mins. 43MB mp3 file. This recording was made as part of the “History @ Bath Place” project, 2007-9. dorothy-marlow
Charles recounts memories of a boyhood in wartime – the Coventry Blitz, the street parties at the end of the War and for the Coronation, life at Sabin’s Bakery, and Saturday cinema in the 1950s. 50 mins. 53MB mp3 file. This recording was made as part of the “History @ Bath Place” project, 2007-9. charles-sabin
Kevin talks about a life in music, from Rentons Rare Records to playing home-made instruments (watering can, anyone?) on TV’s Blue Peter and in many local schools. 31 mins. 33MB mp3 file. This recording was made as part of the “History @ Bath Place” project, 2007-9. kevin-renton
Bob reminisces with LHG member Colin Jennings about their early years in Windsor Street in the 1940s. 13 mins. 14MB mp3 file. This recording was made as part of the “History @ Bath Place” project, 2007-9. bob-ross
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
June 9, 2026
Nelly (later known as Eleanor Velasco) Thornton was born in Stockwell, London, on 15th April 1880 to Frederick and Sarah Ann Thornton, who was also known as ‘Nellie’. They had...
May 26, 2026
This is Mark’s own brief personal and professional story about how he became interested in the history of Leamington Spa and producing films about the town’s full, varied and fascinating...
May 6, 2026
Acknowledgements to Contributors Writers of Articles Stella BolithoNigel BriggsPeter CoullsBarry FranklinMichael JeffsAllan JenningsMichael PearsonDr Sylvia PinchesMargaret RushtonSidney SysonRichard TaulbutDr John Wilmot Substantial Contributors to Articles. Kay Bugg; Alan Griffin; Dr...