Nelly Thornton, Blue Plaque
June 9, 2026
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
Mark Ellis, Leamington History on Film
May 26, 2026
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
Marlborough Hotel
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. Marlborough Hotel started life in the 1850s as a private Regency house, Elmley Lodge, in Brandon Parade, designed by builder, Benjamin Bradshaw.
Manor House, Lillington
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. The Manor House lies at the centre of the old Lillington village, a short distance from the parish church of St
Manor House, Leamington
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. Built as the Wise family home in the Queen Anne style in about 1740 with a handsome Chippendale staircase and two
Manor Farm, Lillington
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. Manor Farm was the largest of the three Lillington village farms, extending over 230 acres to the Cubbington boundary. At
Loft Theatre
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. What is today known as The Loft Theatre Company began as the Warwick and Leamington Dramatic Club which was founded in
Kinmond’s Factory
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. There is a substantial building with a certain ‘presence’ on the east side of Kenilworth Street which is now the home
Jephson Gardens’ Buildings
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. The Gardens. The gardens themselves are, of course, the main reason for visiting them. However, over the years, the gardens have
Hexagonal Houses
February 21, 2026
This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. The concept of constructing hexagonal houses is not a new one, with examples surviving from the 19th century. Indeed in 1941
