This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print.
Nos 41 – 47 and 51 – 53 Clapham Terrace, Leamington Spa
[The Barracks, Outline drawing of Barracks: Wm Kendall, County Surveyor July 29 1856. (Bill Gibbons archive)]
Following the re-organisation of the two regiments of Warwickshire Militia under the Militia Act of 1852, the 2nd Warwickshire Militia chose to make their headquarters in Leamington.
In 1857, the Militia Barracks (above), in Clapham Terrace, were designed by William Kendall, the County Surveyor, and built by John and William Norman of Leicester at a cost of £2855. 5s, to house the stores and permanent staff of the 2nd Warwickshire Militia. These two distinctive blocks of properties together with a central block, now demolished, originally formed the long frontage (of approximately 300 feet) of a depot used by the 2nd Warwickshire Militia, the local home defence regiment similar to the “Home Guard” of more recent times. They were at what are now Nos 41 – 47 and 51 – 53 Clapham Terrace,
The site, covering approximately 4,700 square yards, only half a mile away from the Railway Stations, was acquired in 1856 from Edward Greaves, a well-known local landowner at that time, who placed restrictive covenants on the land to prevent any kind of “nuisance, disturbance to the neighbourhood, or the manufacture or burning of Bricks and Tiles.” Contemporary accounts show that the buildings consisted of two ‘Dwelling Houses’ of 19 rooms each, one of 7 rooms, and three of 6 rooms, together with extensive store rooms, wash-houses, workshops and sheds, all of which were substantial in size. There was also a sizeable area with an open shed, fronting Clapham Terrace and adjoining the Warwick and Napton Canal, used as a Parade Ground. The house on the extreme right of the drawing above, was at first the residence of the Adjutant, and later, the Militia Hospital, until (according to the Medical Officer) evil smells, emanating from the canal, made its further use undesirable! The Quartermaster lived in the house at the opposite end of the building, with his office adjoining. The main entrance into the depot was located under the central block and was fitted with large wooden gates which led to the Parade Ground around which were the quarters of the permanent staff, and cells for prisoners. The Armoury, where firearms were kept, was located between the main entrance and the Adjutant’s house. In 1863, a Magazine capable of holding 56 barrels, was added, and six years later, a large drilling shed, all of which reduced the size of the parade ground, forcing the acquisition of further land on the Southam Road side of the site.
In late 1867, at a time of increased activity by the Fenians (a militant organisation for Irish Home Rule), security was stepped up at the depot in case of attack to obtain arms. Iron bars and shutters were inserted in the windows and one of the windows over the entrance was extended and fitted with loopholes to allow covering fire over the street outside.
With the exception of the years of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny Campaigns, the 2nd Warwickshire Militia were trained and billeted in the town from 1853 until the opening of Budbrooke Barracks in 1877. Recruits assembled in April, and were joined by more experienced men in May. The regiment paraded every morning in Clapham Terrace, after which, led by its fine band, the men marched through the town to the Parr & Wisden Cricket Field (now Victoria Park, Victoria Street and Archery Road), for Drill Practice. A second Drill was held in the afternoon. Official inspections were carried out by Lord Leigh as Lord Lieutenant.
To offset the rigours of training, a reading room with light refreshments was available in the evening at the Town Hall, where Mrs Francis (of E Francis & Sons Ltd) and a group of friends set up a teaching programme to help the men with reading and arithmetic. Concerts and entertainments were organised at the Public Hall in Windsor Street. Officers dined at the Regent Hotel, entertained by the band stationed in the garden.
The Militia’s daily drilling, marching and military band provided Leamington residents and visitors with a lively and interesting spectacle during April and May each year. Although the Cardwell Reforms (between 1868 & 1874) of army organisation and efficiency led to changes in the terms of soldiers’ recruitment and terms of service, they had little fundamental effect on the Leamington Barracks. They did, however, lead to the development of the bigger site at Budbrooke in 1870, and the eventual closure in 1877 of the Clapham Terrace site. Along with the trading income they brought to the town, the Militia were sadly missed when the yearly training sessions ceased and the redundant buildings were bought at auction on 10 December 1878 by Leamington builder Henry Martin for the sum of £2425. Subsequently, the land and buildings at the rear of the depot were redeveloped for the housing now known as Clapham Square, with access from Clapham Terrace created by the demolition of the central section of the buildings on the frontage. The remainder of the frontage buildings were converted internally into housing and parts of the façade altered to accommodate the new doorways.
Sometime in the early 1900s the end property (41 Clapham Terrace) opened as a grocery store and a shop front was inserted into the facade. The shop continued under a number of owners including finally the Coventry Co-op, and closed in the 1970s.
[The remaining Barracks buildings today, Photographed by Barry Franklin]
Margaret Rushton, with acknowledgement of information from Jo Clark, Richard King and files held at Leamington Library.
Images: Outline drawing of Barracks: Wm Kendall, County Surveyor July 29 1856. (Bill Gibbons archive), Photograph: Barry Franklin