This is a long story and is told in three parts – 1. Coventry to Leamington and then to Rugby on the LNWR 2. Leamington to London and Birmingham on the GWR 3. “Merger” by Nationalisation and Beyond Part Two – Leamington to London and Birmingham on the GWR This GWR line through Leamington … Read more
Bertram Saxelbye Evers, “B” Company, 9th [Service] Battalion [Prince of Wales’s Own] West Yorkshire Regiment, 32nd Brigade 3 November 1891-14 September 1916 Bertram Saxelbye Evers was born on the 3rd November 1891 in Aldborough, North Yorkshire, the youngest of the ten surviving children of Rev. Edwin and Mrs Saxelbye Evers. When he was not either … Read more
Memories of a long-vanished trade A trawl through Leamington Street Directories of the past shows an interesting pattern in the growth and later demise of the family bakery. In 1832, there were only seven shops in the whole of the town, – two butchers, two fish shops and three mercers. Leamington families – or if … Read more
Built in 1875, at the instigation of Henry Bright, backed by Aldermen Wackrill (then Mayor), Bishop and Bradshaw, Campion Terrace Water Works were the first publicly owned waterworks in the country to supply a whole town – Leamington Spa – and the surrounding area with potable (drinking) water. When Mayor Henry Bright laid the Foundation … Read more
Randolph Turpin’s life was a classic rags to riches story that should have had a happy ending. As it turned out, it ended in bankruptcy and tragedy. Born in 1928 in a rented basement flat at 6 Willes Road, Leamington he was christened Randolph Adolphus. His father Lionel came from British Guiana and was descended … Read more
Mary Cordelia Emily Leigh was born in 1866 at Stoneleigh Abbey, the youngest child of William Henry, 2nd Baron Leigh. Her family were among the wealthiest and most influential landowners in Warwickshire, with an estate of nearly 15,000 acres. Despite his great wealth, Cordelia’s father proved a benevolent head of the Leigh estate, with a … Read more
The Dell is a small public open space below street level in the Leamington suburb of Milverton. It is bounded by Warwick Terrace, Beauchamp Hill, the rear of Albany Terrace and Warwick Street / Warwick Place, opposite the venerable Star and Garter public house. It was originally a steep-sided brook valley through farmland. Before the … Read more
Leamington had many chapels, some are long gone, others have been put to alternative uses, and some lie empty, probably damp and derelict, awaiting their fate. The ex- Baptist chapel on Clarendon Street is one such, being proposed currently for demolition and replacement by housing. There are two chapels however that seem unlikely to face … Read more
William Thomas Edwards joined the 30-strong Leamington Police force which had been in existence since 1825, on the 15th October 1863. At that time, a Constable’s pay was 18s 6d (92.5p) per week whilst on probation and on being given permanent appointment, it was increased to £l-0s-6d (£1.025p) per week. The hours of duty … Read more
The James family were involved in the local licensed trade for over eighty years. Francis James commenced his business activity on 23rd July 1897, when he took over from James Walters the Park Tavern Inn, at 1a Union Road, Packmores, Warwick, (renamed Lakin Road in 1941). The Park Tavern had a bar, smoke room, and a … Read more
William Lewin, uncle of two Leamington HG members, was a qualified carpenter and joiner who worked for many years at local builders Wallsgrove Bros of Clarendon Street and Leicester Street. He later became a buildings inspector for the local council. He was also a well known musician and played the accordion at many local cabaret … Read more
This obituary appeared in January 1941 in the Railway Magazine, a monthly publication which is still published today. Mr Antrobus died during a bombing raid on Leamington Spa when a bomb demolished 15 York Road, where he lived with his father who died in the same raid. MR G P ANTROBUS Born 12th October 1892 … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
November 6, 2026
November 6, 2026
November 6, 2026