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William Thomas in Leamington

William Thomas in Leamington

The Early Years William Thomas was born the second of four sons in 1799 in Suffolk. In about 1805, the family moved to Gloucestershire. William was apprenticed to the local builder as a a carpenter and joiner, and skills he learned then came in useful in his later...
No 8 Lansdowne Circus, 1966-1972

No 8 Lansdowne Circus, 1966-1972

“Don’t touch it with a barge pole!” A piece of advice that the Hampson family did not heed when purchasing no 8 Lansdowne Circus in 1966. Its bulging gable end wall, run down condition and an elegant two-storey staircase painted ‘fire-engine’ red did...
Clarendon Street Baptist Chapel

Clarendon Street Baptist Chapel

I was recently in Clarendon Street watching the demolition of the old chapel, originally known as the Free Baptist Chapel. The construction came about when a group broke away from the Warwick Street chapel, ostensibly over the lack of provision of a school. The new...
Sidney Flavel & Co, 1851 Medal

Sidney Flavel & Co, 1851 Medal

In 1851 at the Great Exhibition Sidney Flavel of Leamington was awarded a medal for his Kitchener cooking range. There is much confusion over this medal, modern descriptions claim it was one of seventeen ‘gold’ medals awarded. However, contemporary...
Ranelagh Gardens

Ranelagh Gardens

Ranelagh Gardens, “The Vauxhall of Leamington,” 1811-1846   Leamington’s ten acre Ranelagh Gardens were situated in old town over the canal bridge in Brunswick Street. No doubt named in imitation of the famous Ranelagh Gardens in London, Leamington’s...