As the village of Leamington Priors rapidly developed into a fashionable spa, the increasing number of visitors and residents required distractions other than simply taking the waters. Bath Street was at the hub of the initial development since most of the springs and the bath houses built around them were in that vicinity. By 1813 … Read more
In 1810 a group of people in the town realised that, despite the growing population, there was not a suitable room for meetings, events and entertainment in the town. Prior to that date a room near the old Bowling Green Inn south of the river was used. A Committee was formed, funds were raised, and the … Read more
The name ‘Theatre Royal’ has been used for at least two theatres in the town and it may have occasionally also been applied to another. The first incarnation with the name was the theatre built in Bath Street in 1813. This stood on the east side of the street and was near to the church just … Read more
Nineteenth-Century Leamington boasted well over 300 pubs and beer houses. Many of these have been demolished or used for other purposes. However, The Star and Garter, at Nos 4 and 6 Warwick Street, survived and is now the oldest Leamington pub still in operation on the same site today. According to local historian Lyndon Cave, … Read more
The Royal Spa Centre, designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd and Partners, was officially opened on 15th June 1972, the foundation stone having been laid on 16th November 1970. Sir Frederick was at the time the consultant architect-planner for the Borough of Royal Leamington Spa. The town had never had a theatre venue provided from the public purse. … Read more
The main cinema in Leamington Spa in 2018 is the Vue which was originally named the Regal and has also been the Apollo. It is on the corner of Portland Place West with Augusta Place. It was opened in September 1931 and is in Art Deco style designed by Horace G Bradley of Birmingham. It is on the site … Read more
As the town became a fashionable spa, people needed entertainment when not taking the waters. Bath Street was close to several baths in the town and in 1814 John Sims opened a theatre there, opposite Abbotts’ Baths. Two years later Robert William Elliston (1774-1828), an actor-manager from the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London took it over. He … Read more
What is today known as The Loft Theatre Company began as the Warwick and Leamington Dramatic Club which was founded in 1922. The first performance was The Silver Box which was staged at the Spencer Street schoolroom in 1923. It became the only theatre in town when the Theatre Royal (see article) was converted to a cinema … Read more
The Gardens. The gardens themselves are, of course, the main reason for visiting them. However, over the years, the gardens have been enhanced by the erection (and occasional replacement or removal) of several buildings. The word “building” has been given a wide meaning in this article. The Gardens were the private woodland and garden of the … Read more
The address of this pub was originally in Cross Street, which was later named Regent Street in honour of the Prince Regent. The Golden Lion was one of the first buildings to be built north of the river Leam as part of the “new town” in 1810 and it was one of the few places where accommodation … Read more
In 1814 Michael Thomas Copps arrived from Cheltenham and took over the Old Greyhound Inn (latterly the Black Dog) from Thomas Sinker. In 1814 the population of Leamington Priors had risen to 1800 and there was a need for good hotel accommodation in the town. Copps also acquired the nearby Fishers Boarding house and set … Read more
The Bowling Green Inn, along with the Dog Inn (see article), was one of the original alehouses of the village of Leamington Priors. They were situated opposite each other across what is now the High Street (then London Road). There were two successive Bowling Green Inns in Church Street (then Church Lane) with the earliest … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
October 22, 2026
October 22, 2026
October 20, 2026