The name ‘Theatre Royal’ has been used for at least two theatres in the town and it may have occasionally also been applied to another. The first incarnation with the name was the theatre built in Bath Street in 1813. This stood on the east side of the street and was near to the church just … Read more
Following the First World War local authorities were encouraged by the government to build Council Housing to replace the very poor properties lived in by some of their residents. In Leamington the Borough Council showed some reluctance to comply with this. People were living in sub-standard accommodation in courts of houses where as many as … Read more
Around 1836, the noted architect, William Thomas, began to develop parts of North East Leamington including Holly Walk, Willes Road and Lansdowne Circus. He designed a series of houses for different income groups: semi-detached properties for the moderately wealthy, detached villas for the wealthy and immense and elaborate villas for the very wealthy. Two of … Read more
A group of three high-rise multi-storey residential blocks dating from 1959 when construction started are to found at what is probably the highest point within Leamington Spa. The tallest of the three blocks is Eden Court, an iconic landmark of some 15 storeys providing 89 dwelling units completed in 1960. Its location is such that … Read more
The Tennis Court Club first began negotiations to buy land in Holly Walk to build a home for what the Leamington Courier considered “this scientific and beautiful game” in 1844. Two years and many negotiations later, the courts opened instead in Bedford Street. ‘Real’ or Royal Tennis, as opposed to Lawn Tennis, is an ancient game, … Read more
It is likely that Sydenham Farm came into being following the Enclosure Act of 1768 when common land went into private ownership. Fields were divided by fences and hedges and farms were developed. Matthew Wise of Shrubland Hall was awarded “Sydenham Fields and Sydenham Meadowe”. The exact date that the farmhouse was built is unclear but the … Read more
Jane Elizabeth Tolson was born in Yorkshire in 1879 and followed her older brother, John Edwin, into the teaching profession. A qualified teacher, geography specialist, member of the Royal Geographical Society, able linguist and inveterate traveller, Miss Tolson held a series of teaching posts, becoming a head teacher for Staffordshire County Council by 1911. It was … Read more
South Parade was the name of a row of eight houses on the north side of Charlotte Street towards the west end of the street. There was some confusion with the name South Parade because Clarendon Avenue was also known as South Parade until 1881. The name South Parade does not appear to have been used for the … Read more
In 1884 the Leamington School Board’s first triennial report stated that they had great difficulty in securing suitable sites for two much-needed new schools to be built. In the south, after trying for land in the Ranelagh District, the only land available was in Shrubland Street, which was bought for £1,422.6s.0d It was said that … Read more
When the provisions of the Leamington Priors Enclosure Act were implemented in 1768, of the 867 acres allotted by the commissioners, over half of it was awarded to Mr Matthew Wise. The Wise allotment of 472 acres made Matthew Wise the largest land owner in the parish with a holding marginally larger than that of … Read more
Benjamin Satchwell and his friend William Abbotts were instrumental in enabling Leamington to develop as a spa town after they discovered a source of mineral water on Abbotts’ land. At the time Abbotts owned and managed the Black Dog (see article), a pub on the High Street, whereas Satchwell occupied a thatched cottage on the corner of what … Read more
There are reports that the Roman Catholic church was using the Apollo Rooms in Clemens Street and a chapel in Tower Street for services about 1822. However, this article is a tale of two later buildings because the Roman Catholics moved from one church to another. George Street. In the eighteenth century Roman Catholics worshipped inconspicuously. They … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
November 7, 2026
November 6, 2026
November 6, 2026