19th Century

Castle Brewery

This is a summary of a Research Paper which may be viewed by Clicking Here Long before the subject brewery coexisted with a hotel, the Brunswick Street premises were known as the Castle Tavern and – according to an 1816 entry in the licensed victuallers’ records – its first licensee was Joseph Baker; it would … Read more

Richard Hewens, Leamington Ironfounder, Ironmonger and Inventor

Richard Hewens was born at Morton Pinkney, Northamptonshire in 1819/20.  The first mention of him in Leamington is his marriage to Mary Ann Hall of Budbrooke at All Saints Parish Church in 1841.  Richard and Mary Ann were listed at 38 Althorpe Street in the 1851 Census, with Richard’s profession given as “Smith.” They had … Read more

New Street Burial Ground

New Street burial ground was opened once the graveyard at the Parish Church was deemed to be full. The ground, an area of 2154 square yards in the historic centre of the (then) new Leamington, was presented to the parish by Mrs Wise and her son Matthew Wise of Shrubland Hall.  It was consecrated on … Read more

Alderman Henry Bright JP, 1817 -1904

Henry Bright was born in Sheffield in 1817, where his father Isaac and uncle Philip, were in business as Goldsmiths. Mr Isaac Bright opened a shop on the Parade in Leamington Priors 1831, – one of the first in the New Town, where he traded until shortly before his death in 1849. Mr Isaac Bright … Read more

Photographers of Leamington Spa: Robert L Graham (1844-1925)

Robert Leveston Graham (long thought to be his trade name, rather than his given name) was born in the East End of London in 1844, the younger of two sons born to Louisa, the unmarried daughter of Lawrence and Mary Leverston of Stepney.  When their mother married, the brothers were raised with their step-siblings in … Read more

G W Grove, A Most Litigious Ironmonger

Recent research on local iron-founders and ironmongers has uncovered a quite remarkable man with a busy career in court in the second half of the nineteenth century. The man in the spotlight is George William Grove. He first appears in the Leamington Courier as the executor of a will in 1871. Over a period of … Read more

Edward Tracy Turnerelli 1813 -1896

Edward Tracy Turnerelli was the grandson of an Italian count. His father Peter was one of the most eminent sculptors of the age and in 1801 became Royal Sculptor in Ordinary to King George III. He carved portrait busts of many members of the Royal Family and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. One of … Read more

William Riley and the Birmingham and Leamington Lifeboat

  One of the largest, if not the largest, monuments in Leamington Spa cemetery at Brunswick Street is that of William Riley. At the top of the monument there are 3 faces; 2 are engraved and the 3rd is blank.  One of the faces shows an engraving of a panoramic view that includes a dog, … Read more

Leamington Spa Ale & Porter Brewery, Wise Street

Leamington Spa Ale & Porter Brewery [AKA: Public Brewery, Regent Brewery, Leamington Brewery] Wise Street Summary This is a summary of a Research Paper which may be viewed by Clicking Here Researching and piecing together this brewery’s history was particularly interesting because so little is known about it and even less has been written – … Read more

H B Dunn Chemists

  One of Leamington’s longest established businesses became yet another casualty of the increasing rents demanded for commercial premises when H B Dunn the Regent Street Chemist moved to alternative premises this year. The properties adjoining the old Lloyd’s Bank including the Golden Lion Inn were some of the first buildings to be erected when … Read more

Massey Bromley, Railway Locomotive Engineer

Massey Bromley has at least two connections with Leamington Spa; he was a pupil at Leamington College and also he is buried in Leamington cemetery in Brunswick Street and has a memorial in St Mary’s church. He was pretty unique in that he was possibly the only locomotive superintendent with a railway company at the … Read more