This is the first in what we hope will be a series of videos about the history of Leamington, celebrating the town’s rich history, engaging with other groups across the community in the process of story-telling, and helping share the knowledge of our local historians with new and diverse audiences – including residents of the town, tourists and school students.
It tells the story of Leamington’s transformation from a small village to a thriving spa town in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the origins of Leamington’s spa industry, the creation of the Pump Rooms and the demise of the original baths in Old Town.
This has been a collaborative process between Leamington History Group, local film-maker Mark Ellis, Leamington Spa Museum & Art Gallery, students and staff from Myton School and Alan Gill – actor and director of the Teatro theatre school.
Our current plan is to produce at least a further five films over the next year. To achieve this, however, we will need external funding and support. If you are able to help, or have any suggestions either for sources of funding or for subjects for subsequent films, please get in touch with Mark Ellis (mark@postmastermedia.co.uk) or Margaret Rushton, Secretary of Leamington History Group (rushtonmm1860@gmail.com).
UPDATE.
Following the success of our first video: “Birth of a Spa Town”, the Leamington History Group will be producing a second new video to tell the story of the town in the final half of the nineteenth century. This video will be around 20 minutes long, will cost at least £3,000 to make and will be produced by the same team. We will welcome donations to fund this new film – which we hope to launch by September 2020.
If you or your organisation are able to donate funds to support this, can you please make a payment by BACS transfer (sort code 40-27-06, account no 42083019, plus your name), cash or cheque, with cheques made payable to Leamington History Group. If using the post then please address to Secretary, L H G, c/o 15 Vicarage Road, Lillington, Leamington Spa, CV32 7RH.
Thank you for supporting Leamington History Group
Curious to know more?
Here are some links to articles on this site discussing in more detail subjects covered in the video:
Beech Lawn, Home of Dr Jephson
Nineteenth Century Slums in Leamington Spa