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
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
In 1818 the only places of worship in Leamington Priors were the parish church of All Saints (see article) and the non-conformist Congregationalist chapel in Clemens Street. A few Methodists did establish a place of worship in a loft in Barnacle’s Yard, Satchwell Street, in 1817, but did not establish a permanent home in Leamington … Read more
St Mark’s Church is a Church of England establishment which is on the north-east corner where St Mark’s Road leaves Rugby Road. Rugby Road was a turnpike road running from Warwick to Rugby and several cottages and houses were in existence along parts of it for many years before the church was built. In the early … Read more
The project to build a church in Tachbrook Street was inspired by Mrs. Matthew Wise of Shrubland Hall in 1874 whilst she was making alterations to her will. She donated £1,000 for the purpose. A Committee, including Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh and Canon Young, Rector of Whitnash, was formed and a meeting was held in the … Read more
Following the end of the First World War David Lloyd George’s Government passed the 1919 Housing Act (the Addison Act, named after the then Minister of Health.) This permittedlocal authorities to build Council Houses and use the General Rate Fund to finance the building of them. There was some reluctance on the part of some of … Read more
Leamington is justly renowned for its Regency elegance, its squares, crescents and the Parade. However, after the glamorous early days of the spa town, it settled into middle-class respectability and residential life. The coming of the railway in the 1840s supported both visitors to the town and an increasing number of commuters, wealthy manufacturers and … Read more
The Royal Spa Centre, designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd and Partners, was officially opened on 15th June 1972, the foundation stone having been laid on 16th November 1970. Sir Frederick was at the time the consultant architect-planner for the Borough of Royal Leamington Spa. The town had never had a theatre venue provided from the public purse. … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
September 9, 2026
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