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
An article about the Camouflage Directorate which operated in Leamington in the Second Word War can be viewed HERE. This article shows the unveiling a commemorative plaque on the Regent Hotel on 24th September 2025 by the Mayor, Councillor Ruggy Singh. The hotel was the headquarters of the Directorate. The hotel was requisitioned by the … Read more
Nos 41 – 47 and 51 – 53 Clapham Terrace, Leamington Spa [The Barracks, Outline drawing of Barracks: Wm Kendall, County Surveyor July 29 1856. (Bill Gibbons archive)] Following the re-organisation of the two regiments of Warwickshire Militia under the Militia Act of 1852, the 2nd Warwickshire Militia chose to make their headquarters in Leamington. In … Read more
The Rear-Admiral who came to town. Contribution by David G.P. Morse Vice Chair and Archivist Leamington History Group Being involved with the Group’s website means that you get asked interesting questions and in some cases very interesting ones. One question that caused me to rush to the National Newspaper Archives was regarding one Rear-Admiral Sir … Read more
On the 6th June 2024 representatives of the Leamington History Group, the Vicar of All Saints Church, Father Christopher Wilson, the Mayor, Councillor Judith Clarke , Matt Western M.P. , the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, other dignitaries and members of the public attended a short service at Leamington’s War memorial to remember all these … Read more
Composer, Conductor, Pianist, Organist and Music Critic (aka The Man Who Buried Rupert Brooke) We are pleased to announce that a Blue Plaque remembering William Browne was unveiled in June 2024 at 23 Lillington Road. Images are at the end of this article. Born in Leamington in 1888 to distinguished Anglo-Irish parents, William was educated … Read more
Leamington College has long produced a well-known list of scientists, doctors, academic scholars, inventors and national-level sportsmen, but there are still one or two unsung heroes. Alongside luminaries such as Lytton Strachey, cricketer and biographer of Queen Victoria, Sir Bernard Spilsbury, Sir Frank Whittle, Dennis Enright, poet and academic, Keith Savage, England Rugby Union player, … Read more
“Sceptre and crown Must tumble down, And in the dust be equal made With the poor crooked scythe and spade.” Thus wrote dramatist James Shirley in 1658, reiterating a motif in popular discourse that death renders all lives, irrespective of status, wealth or achievement, equal.[1] But how far is death the great equaliser? Historians, whose … Read more
At the beginning of the Second World War the government had a great deal to think about. One important decision to be made was about the need to prevent damage and destruction by the enemy of vital factories producing materials for defending the country and waging war and other civilian assets such as power stations. … Read more
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
Few visitors to the parish church can fail to see the various memorial tablets on the wall of the north transept. A number of these plaques record the death in Leamington of senior naval officers who had served in the wars against the French. A little research reveals that four of these were vice-admirals who … Read more
Many Leamingtonians are not aware of the detail of the bombing raids on Leamington during the Second World War. Ask them if we were bombed and they will often tell you that Queen Victoria’s statue was moved because of a bomb. Many will tell you that Lipton’s grocery shop on the Parade was demolished … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
August 12, 2026
August 8, 2026