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.
A group of three high-rise multi-storey residential blocks dating from 1959 when construction started are to found at what is probably the highest point within Leamington Spa. The tallest of the three blocks is Eden Court, an iconic landmark of some 15 storeys providing 89 dwelling units completed in 1960. Its location is such that it can be seen dominating the sky-line from whichever direction one approaches Leam-ington Spa. There are two other blocks, one known as Ashton Court and the other Southorn Court of nine storeys, each having 46 dwelling within. The site stretches precisely to the boundary of Leamington/Lillington with Cubbington.
Approval for their construction on the Campion Hills was given by the Royal Borough of Leamington Spa Council Housing Committee in 1959 despite widespread protests on the grounds that “it would constitute obtrusive skyline development of a most undesirable kind”. The architect for Eden Court was the local Rayner and Fedeski practice, with George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. being the contractors for the construction of this 135 feet (41 metres) tall tower block. The method of construction was to in-fill reinforced concrete frames with “No Fines” – concrete comprising cement and gravel, a method of construction popular at the time. The south aspect was of brick and the remainder is rendered and dashed with Criggion green granite and Derbyshire Spar. The other blocks were built by Morriss and Jacombs Limited of Birmingham.
Photo Leamington History Group Archives
The Morning News reported that the Eden Court block was to be officially opened on 17th November 1960 by Mr. John Hobson, M.P. for Warwick and Leamington, at 3.00pm with tea to be served afterwards at the Lillington Community Centre. In fact, the ceremony was not performed by him as the film from the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) testifies, but by his wife, Mrs. John Hobson. The name of Eden Court was in recognition of the one-time M.P. for Warwick and Leamington Anthony Eden who went on to become Prime Minister, and later Lord Avon, whilst Ashton and Southorn Courts acknowledged two Aldermen from the Borough Council. Incidentally if the lift breaks down for those on the top floor there are only 196 stairs to climb. In 2017 the future of these blocks was being debated but no changes are believed to be imminent.
Peter Coulls, 2018
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are presented at the end of this page — https://leamingtonhistory.co.uk/articles-from-royal-leamington-spa-a-history-in-100-buildings/