Places

Architects of Victorian Leamington Spa

This is a video of the Zoom presentation made to our Virtual monthly meeting by Mick Jeffs on Monday, 25th October 2021. It will be available for a couple of weeks so that people can view it again or catch-up if they missed it. Just click on the title image below

Dr E A Huntley, (1852-1917) Medical Pioneer

Dr Edith Ara Huntley, 1852-1918, Pioneering woman doctor Edith Ara Huntley was the older of two daughters of Arabella and Richard Huntley, born at Kings Langley, Hertfordshire in 1852, where their father was then joint owner of a Brewery. Edith lived in Leamington Spa, with her parents and younger sister Eliza from at least 1861 … Read more

Mary Hart, 98 Brunswick Street, Leamington

Attempted Suicide by Local Leamington Resident Mary Hart, aged 31 years, caused quite a stir on Saturday 2 July 1870 at10.15 p.m. when she tried to drown herself.  She was hauled before the magistrates for the crime of attempting to commit suicide by jumping off Castle Bridge, Warwick, into the River Avon. Originally from the … Read more

A Wartime Telephonist

Betty Monica Still In an interview  a couple of years ago with Betty Still,  Betty recounted her early life in Leamington and her work as a telephonist up to and through WW2, in Leamington and Coventry.  She was born at 4 Victoria Road Leamington Spa.    When she was five, the family moved to 42 Willes … Read more

A Leamington Knife in Argentina

  In the summer of 2016, Leamington History Group received a message asking for help from Alberto Guido Chester, a knife historian and researcher in Argentina who had acquired a “gaucho” knife probably made in the 19th Century and stamped ‘Hobson Cutler Leamington’ (right). Alberto had not been able to find much useful information about … Read more

Guided Walks for Groups and Coach Parties

Leamington History Group has resumed its Private Guided Walks programme in 2023. Tours will be available for groups or coach parties. The cost will be £8 per person with a minimum charge of £20 for each walk Bookings may be made by email to the Secretary at secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk

Video No 3, Life After Victoria

We are proud to launch our new video on 12th August 2021.  This follows the story of our town from 1900 to around 1930. Simply click on the image above or this title “Life After Victoria” This video follows our two earlier ones entitled “Birth of a Spa Town” and “Leamington’s Victorian Legacy”. We particularly … Read more

Daniel Goodman Squirhill, Architect, 1809-1863

It is almost certain that Daniel Goodman Squirhill was born in 1809 in (Fenny) Stratford in Buckinghamshire, although he was recorded as being born a year earlier in the village of Nobottle in Northamptonshire by Toby Cave. His father, Charles, is said to have designed parts of Lighthorne church in 1808. He studied at the … Read more

George Thomas Robinson, Architect

George Thomas “Metz” Robinson was active in Leamington Spa for only about a dozen years from 1855 to 1870 but he went on to be successful elsewhere in several fields. He did draw up some designs for buildings in Leamington but he had other interests and occupations including journalism. His journalistic career perhaps began in … Read more

John Russell, Architect

John Russell was born in 1770 and died on 10th August 1840, aged 70. In 1831 he was living near the canal bridge in Tachbrook Road. Russell was in business on his own in Wise Street until he took on Edmund Mitchell as a partner around 1828. They adopted the name Russell and Mitchell and … Read more

Edmund Mitchell, Architect

Edmund Mitchell was active in Leamington Spa s an architect from about 1828 to 1860. He was a partner with the older John Russell until John died in 1841, in the firm of Russell and Mitchell based at No 18 Wise Street; he then continued as a sole trader. He is sometimes incorrectly referred to … Read more

John George Jackson, Architect

John George Jackson was born on 2nd February 1799, the son of Ralph Jackson and Eliza (nee Hopwood). He was baptised at St George’s Church in Hanover Square in London, the church where his parents had married. John married Emma Prichard, daughter of Bristol surgeon William Evans Prichard and Sarah Radford on 19th February 1835 … Read more