This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print. The demise of public houses in the local area has prompted a phase of demolition with replacement by housing; not … Read more
The Regent Hotel opened on 19th August 1819, – amongst the earliest of the buildings erected north of the River Leam as the Spa expanded. On a triangular plot, it was wedged between Regent Street, the Parade, and what later became Regent Grove and the site of the new Town Hall. The land had once belonged … 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
Built as the Wise family home in the Queen Anne style in about 1740 with a handsome Chippendale staircase and two dovecotes at the foot of a three-acre garden, the Manor House subsequently saw many alterations and adaptations. When Matthew Wise married, he built Shrubland Hall on the outskirts of the town, leaving the Manor House to become … Read more
Samuel Shepheard Stanley was one of four sons and four daughters of John and Sarah Stanley of Sydenham Farm. He was born in 1848 and with his siblings was taught at home by a governess. His older brother Joseph later became the farm manager, and eventually took over from their father. Another brother ran The … Read more
This page is a Summary of a Research Paper which can be viewed HERE (pdf document). The Author Updated this document in May 2021. The Leamington History Group is pleased to publish the fruits of this research because some of the ale brewed in Wallace Street, Saltisford, Warwick was imbibed in pubs in Leamington Spa. … Read more
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
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
A wine merchant had operated from 61, Clarendon Street since at least 1878 – Arthur Watts was the licensee, followed by Lionel James circa 1900. In August 1908 an application was granted for the temporary transfer of the wine merchant off-licence from Lionel James to William Udal; this was made permanent in the October and … Read more
This is a summary of the Research Paper which is available in full HERE Born on 7th August, 1854, Henry Edward Thornley was originally a farmer at Radford Hall, Radford Semele, who initially commenced brewing solely for his own labourers. However, by 1898 he had broadened his business interests and is listed at Radford Hall … Read more
Summary of a Research Paper by Martin Ellis, May 2016 (updated July 2017) The Leamington Brewery was founded in 1839 after, London textile merchant, Stephen Lewis purchased a block of land in Lillington Avenue from Thomas George Skipwith, Glynne Welby and Christopher Wise. Stephen Lewis’ original partners were Everitt Allenby and a Mr. Sandeman, and … Read more
Mrs Fowler, legendary owner of Leamington’s pre-war Blue Café, was born in Derbyshire and grew up in Polesworth, where her father was Vicar of the Parish Church, and Rural Dean. In 1906, at the age of 25, she married George Herbert Fowler, an Oxford-educated mining engineer who was managing director of Arley Colliery in nearby … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
August 12, 2026
August 8, 2026