Featured
Nelly Thornton, Blue Plaque
Nelly (later known as Eleanor Velasco) Thornton was born in Stockwell, London, on 15th April 1880 to Frederick and Sarah Ann Thornton, who was also known as ‘Nellie’. They had a son, Frederick William, four years later. By September 1887 when their daughter Rose was born, the family were living in Leamington. Frederick Thornton, father … Read more
Mark Ellis, Leamington History on Film
This is Mark’s own brief personal and professional story about how he became interested in the history of Leamington Spa and producing films about the town’s full, varied and fascinating past and present. I first moved to Leamington from Ealing in early 2000, with my wife Kathryn and our two-week-old son Patrick. Having decided that … Read more
Creative Leamington Spa: Celebrating 200 years of the arts
Leamington History Group published a new local history book on 21st May 2026. This tells the fascinating story of how the arts developed in Royal Leamington Spa. We celebrate creative activity in the town over 200 years, from the heyday of the Spa to the present day. The price is £20, or £17.50 to members … Read more
Gallery of Plaques
This page begins as a reminder of the 40 Blue Plaques in the town. In addition there are two or three other plaques in memory of events. Clicking on the image of the plaque will lead to an article about the person. Most of these have been written especially for this website. (Images by Allan … Read more
Leamington at War video
We are pleased to launch our new video about Leamington at War. It runs for about 30 minutes. It was made by Mark Ellis with Janet Ainley as producer on behalf of the Leamington History Group. We thank the many people who took part in the video or contributed to the production process. It is … Read more
Gulliman’s Golf Courses
(Wiki Commons) A. Tachbrook Road This was a 9 hole golf course owned by Dennis G Gulliman, with the idea that people could choose to play one round or pay extra to go round twice. At first it was open just three days a week, but it got so popular that it opened six days … Read more
Camouflage Directorate Plaque
An article about the Camouflage Directorate which operated in Leamington in the Second Word War can be viewed HERE. This article shows the unveiling a commemorative plaque on the Regent Hotel on 24th September 2025 by the Mayor, Councillor Ruggy Singh. The hotel was the headquarters of the Directorate. The hotel was requisitioned by the … Read more
Heritage Day 2025
In 2025 our Heritage Day was on Saturday, 13th September at All Saints’ Parish Church from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. We had 25 different exhibitors who joined us and we thank them all for making it a very enjoyable and successful event. At least 532 people came to look at the displays and talk … Read more
LEAMINGTON BOROUGH POLICE, Two Hundred Years
The Leamington Borough Police HQ was housed in what is now the Leamington Polish Centre in High Street, and until 1968 it was the original Leamington Police Station, which then moved to Hamilton Terrace before being incorporated within the Warwickshire Criminal Justice Centre in Newbold Terrace. Leamington Police had been formed in 1825 and … Read more
Alan George Griffin, 1941-2025
Sadly, we have to announce that Alan Griffin, long-term member and founder of the Leamington History Group, has died. Margaret Rushton has kindly written this summary of his life. Alan grew up in Southam, one of three sons of a baker who lived at Southam Windmill. He passed the 11+ and attended Leamington College until … Read more
“Enterprising Leamington”
Leamington History Group successfully launched its latest local history book on 7th May. Copies can be obtained for £20 from secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk chair@leamingtonhistory.co.uk Anthony Eden Barbers, Clarendon Street Warwick Books, Market Place, Warwick Leamington Studio Artists, Royal Priors Waterstones Bookshop, Warwick Street Kenilworth Books, Talisman Square, Kenilworth Over 50 volunteers have contributed to researching, writing, photographing … Read more
