A Pigman, Policeman and Publican, the story of Gilbert Hopkins Forest The author, Martin Harrison, is an Ordecomedologist (collector and researcher of Orders, Decorations and Medals). As most British medals are named to the recipient it makes specific research possible, often with interesting results. One such story is that of Gilbert Hopkins Forest whose 1914-18 British War … Read more
Delivering Newspapers for W H Smith My friend Chris advised me that he was leaving WHS and asked if I wanted a job. I certainly did! The hours were 7-8 a.m. Monday to Saturday and the Education Committee issued a card stating when I was allowed work and for how long. Chris was with me … Read more
Archive Antics No 2 (An article from our Newsletter in June 2023 by our Archivist) It’s like a reoccurring nightmare. Deadline day for the Newsletter has arrived, but fortunately I have something for you. Not entirely about Royal Leamington Spa but there are connections. I was aimlessly wandering through the Archive. Sorry, that is … Read more
I was wondering, lonely as a cloud, through the Archive the other day and was thinking about the Blue Plaque that was put up in September 2023 to William Munger Heynes. William Munger Heynes was a man who was instrumental in the design, performance and production of so much of Jaguar’s successful days after WW2. … Read more
An article written by Virginia Ironside, daughter of the two recipients of a Blue Plaque. I am delighted that Leamington had chosen to commemorate my parents with a Blue Plaque, because I lived in Lansdowne Circus until I was 2 1/2 and it was here that my parents were happiest. (Their marriage didn’t last long … Read more
Lillington’s French Houses Lillington’s “French” houses were built during a time when Leamington was expanding, so that housing was needed for the growing population. New developments, such as the Sydenham estate, were planned around the outskirts of Leamington, on what was farmland. The “ French “ houses were built on the site of the famous … Read more
When I obtained my Mk V Saloon I had little or no knowledge of the model, history or heritage of the marque. Once I’d spent 2 years coming to terms with restoring, running and attending some shows, I started to appreciate the whys and wherefores of the car, the Designers/Engineers, and Jaguar Cars as a … Read more
Norman Hyde, the legendary motorcyclist from Leamington, has been honoured to mark the 50th anniversary of his land speed record. Back in 1972, Norman who lives at Radford Semele, rode his home-built Roadrunner III to a speed of 161.8mph at RAF Fairford and in doing so achieved the World Sidecar Land Speed Record – an … Read more
It is very important to start this article by saying that we understand that many people these days find the idea of taxidermy, the stuffing of animals, birds and fish, totally abhorrent. However, we also recognise that in earlier times the possession and collection of these specimens was very popular and allowed people to ‘enjoy’ … Read more
Walter Ritchie was the son of a Coventry carpenter who trained with local stonemasons to become a fully -fledged sculptor by the age of 18. He said that they taught him how to hold a hammer and a chisel, – and a crowbar – in his words, “a very useful tool.” After WW2, he was … Read more
William Munger Heynes (31.12.1903 – 11.07.1989) William Heynes was born at 11 Percy Terrace, Leamington Spa, one of a family of five boys. He was educated at Warwick School from 1914 to 1921, when he started as an apprentice draughtsman at the Humber Car Company in Coventry. He worked in the design department, learning every … Read more
SIR FREDERICK GIBBERD, CBE, RA, FRIBA, MTPI, FILA, 1908 – 1984, was an English architect and landscape designer. Frederick Gibberd was born in Coventry on Tuesday 7th January 1908, the eldest of the five children of a local tailor, also Frederick (sometimes John??). When born, the family was living in Spencer Street, Coventry, but soon moved … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
November 6, 2026
November 6, 2026
November 6, 2026