This was opened on 16th October 1825, the first of the proprietary chapels or chapel of ease built in Leamington. The chosen site across the top of the Parade was at the opposite end of the town from All Saints the parish church. It was built on open land, which soon became the centre of … Read more
Henry Michael Fedeski, FRIBA, Dip.T.P, AMTPI, 1907 – 1993 Henry Fedeski was born on Friday, 6th December 1907 at 28 Clarendon Street (now Road), Aston, Birmingham. His father was also named Henry and his mother was Mildred Mary. Our subject Henry, was one of five children; he had one brother and three sisters and his … Read more
The Early Years. William Thomas was born the second of four sons in 1799 in Nacton, Suffolk where his father was an innkeeper. In about 1805, the family moved a considerable distance to Chalford, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. His father kept the Valley Inn which was later renamed The Clothiers Arms. It appears that the … Read more
John Russell was born in 1770 and died on 10th August 1840, aged 70. In 1831 he was living near the canal bridge in Tachbrook Road. Russell was in business on his own in Wise Street until he took on Edmund Mitchell as a partner around 1828. They adopted the name Russell and Mitchell and … Read more
Edmund Mitchell was active in Leamington Spa s an architect from about 1828 to 1860. He was a partner with the older John Russell until John died in 1841, in the firm of Russell and Mitchell based at No 18 Wise Street; he then continued as a sole trader. He is sometimes incorrectly referred to … Read more
John George Jackson was born on 2nd February 1799, the son of Ralph Jackson and Eliza (nee Hopwood). He was baptised at St George’s Church in Hanover Square in London, the church where his parents had married. John married Emma Prichard, daughter of Bristol surgeon William Evans Prichard and Sarah Radford on 19th February 1835 … Read more
John Cundall, 1830 to 1889 John Cundall is a person who is not quite as well-known as he deserves to be; he was in fact an architect whose designs peppered the town of Royal Leamington Spa. They are buildings which mostly have a distinct air of belonging to the same family. They are mainly unashamedly … Read more
The story of the ship’s orchestra playing the hymn ‘Nearer my God to Thee’ as the Titanic sank is well known and documented. Survivors of the sinking also recounted how a Roman Catholic priest gathered more than a hundred passengers round him on the stern of the ship and led them in prayer after all … Read more
Here is the history of Leamington College for Boys, otherwise known as Binswood Hall, in Binswood Avenue. The story is told in 42 slides and was compiled by Alan Griffin. Click on the forward and back arrows on screen or on the keyboard to navigate through the presentation. Click on the two-headed arrow symbol in … Read more
New Street burial ground was opened once the graveyard at the Parish Church was deemed to be full. The ground, an area of 2154 square yards in the historic centre of the (then) new Leamington, was presented to the parish by Mrs Wise and her son Matthew Wise of Shrubland Hall. It was consecrated on … Read more
The Wise Hall St John’s Parochial Hall (aka ‘The Wise Hall’) was built originally by Dr. John Hitchman. It was used by him as a place of worship for people connected with his Arboretum Hydropathic Hospital which opened close by in 1862. After the formation of St. John’s Parish in 1875, it was given by Mrs. … Read more
The project to build a church for the spiritual welfare of the residents of South Leamington first occurred to Mrs. Matthew Wise of Shrubland Hall in 1874 whilst she was making alterations to her will. She donated £1,000 for the purpose. A Committee, including Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh, and Canon Young, Rector of Whitnash, was formed and a meeting was held in the Crown Hotel on 5th September 1875. In … Read more
Contact the Secretary, Margaret Rushton: secretary@leamingtonhistory.co.uk
September 9, 2026
August 12, 2026