There is a substantial building with a certain ‘presence’ on the east side of Kenilworth Street which is now the home of many retired people. At its heart is a Victorian building enlivened with patterns of different colours of bricks. Many will recall that in the 1960s part of it was the home of Griffin and … Read more
The Justice Centre sits on a site near the western end of Newbold Terrace and is the second full redevelopment of the site since the mid-1960s. The original buildings demolished on the site were a terrace of three-storey houses built by G F Jackson between 1835 and 1838. A terrace of similar properties which remain and have … Read more
The concept of constructing hexagonal houses is not a new one, with examples surviving from the 19th century. Indeed in 1941 Sir Frederick Stewart, Minister for Social Welfare in Australia, was advocating “hexagonal houses with a hole in the roof for a chimney” as a solution to that country’s housing problem, as well as providing a … Read more
What became known as “The Jewel Factory” was based on Tachbrook Road, Royal Leamington Spa, where all kinds of jewellery and other items made of precious metal were manufactured. The firm of Henry Griffith was established in Birmingham in 1850 and moved to a new purpose-built factory in Leamington in 1919/20. The move from Birmingham was … Read more
Harrington House was designed by Edward Welby Pugin (1834-1875), son of A W N Pugin, and famous in his own right for designing over 100 Catholic Churches at home and abroad, despite dying young at 41. It was built in 1869 at the north-west corner of Newbold Street and Newbold Terrace on land bought by local builder and … Read more
It has been suggested that the earliest evidence of a Gas Works in Leamington was 1819, although other sources imply that it could even be some four years before that. T B Dudley in 1901 claimed that there were works “on the site of the present works, erected by Mr Roberts, of the Warwick Foundry, probably … Read more
Originally the land on which houses in Aintree Drive were built belonged to Mr S McGregor, who ran a successful stud farm. This is the reason why, after he sold the land for building, many roads were named after racecourses. Valley Road runs through the middle of the estate and on either side are Aintree Drive, … Read more
In 1860 John Gardiner sent plans to the local board to build a large house on the corner of Upper Holly Walk and Newbold Road (now Willes Road). The plans were eventually approved and the large house was built in a Classical style. It demonstrates the long period within which houses were built in the street; some on … Read more
As there was no provision for Methodists in Leamington in the early 1800s, worshippers travelled to Warwick, or further afield to Coventry. A London barber, William Scott, set up a place of worship for Methodists in Barnacle’s Yard, Satchwell Street in 1817. Two years later, with a congregation of just nine, a large room in Brunswick … Read more
(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
Rev Arthur Margoschis was born in Leamington Spa in 1852. He died of ill-health at a relatively young age in 1908 in India. He had dedicated his life to the people of the village of Saan Pathu (now known as Nazareth) in Tamil Nadu, South India. Thanks to Leamington Town Council for these pages from … Read more
The growth of the “New Town” of Leamington into a fashionable resort gave us wide streets and fine buildings. One of these was the Royal Assembly Rooms where many “splendid balls and concerts” were held. In 1878 they were sold; and then partly demolished, partly converted into shops. Messrs. P. H. Woodward & Co. acquired … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
September 9, 2026
August 12, 2026
August 8, 2026