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Leamington Heritage

This page features some of the interesting buildings of Royal Leamington Spa. The town developed at a great pace in the early 19th century and continued to expand gradually into the 20th century. A number of prolific and idiosyncratic architects all took their opportunity to make their mark on the developing town, with a combination of classical, neo-gothic and individualistic designs reflecting changing fashions through the 19th century. Prominent architects included John Cundall, David Squirhill, John Russell and William Thomas. This resulted in a fascinating heritage of unique and varied buildings which played an important part in the life of the local community. The work of John Cundall included the new Town Hall in the Parade, the Hitchman Fountain, a chapel in the Brunswick Street cemetery, St. Paul's Church in Leicester Street and St. John's Church in Tachbrook Street. David Squirhill designed the lodges at the entrance to the Jephson Gardens, the Congregational Chapel in Holly Walk and the Convent/Leamington College in Binswood Avenue. John Russell displayed his classical style with the Congregational Chapel in Spencer Street and the Roman Catholic Chapel (now the Leamington Spa Mission) in George Street. William Thomas left some of the most iconic residences in Leamington with his designs for Lansdowne Crescent, Lansdowne Circus and Victoria House in Willes Road. He was also responsible for Victoria Terrace opposite All Saints Parish Church.

An early architect who left his mark on the town was C. S. Smith of Warwick. His most famous legacy is the Pump Rooms and Baths, although this has been subject to some alterations over the years. He also designed the Regent Hotel. P. F. Robinson, a London architect designed Christ Church, now sadly lost from the top of the Parade, along with the gardens that surrounded it, which were laid out in 1829. He was an architect of some renown, having designed the original Swiss-style chalet in North-west London which gave the name to the area of Swiss Cottage. He also designed the row of houses in Leamington known as Waterloo Place.

Chapel, Brunswick St. Cemetery

Former Congregational Chapel, Spencer Street.

The Lodges, Jephson Gardens.

Leamington Spa Mission

This building was constructed in 1828 as St. Peter's, the first Roman Catholic Church in Leamington. It is believed that Louis Napoleon, later Napoleon III, worshipped here during his brief sojourn in Leamington in the late 1830's. As the congregation expanded a new church of St. Peter's was constructed in Dormer Place in 1865.

Binswood Hall, North Leamington Community School & Arts College.

Formerly Leamington College for Boys and Convent of the Sacred Heart.

Chapel, Royal Midland Counties Home, Leamington Spa

The Royal Midland Counties Home, Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa was a hospital that provided long term care for people with physical disabilities. The neo-gothic chapel was the most architecturally interesting building on the site. The hospital had originated as the home and practice of Dr. John Hitchman. It was named "The Arboretum", no doubt due to the extensive gardens attached, which contained a variety of magnificent mature trees. In 1885 the property was purchased by the trustees of the Midland Counties Home for Incurables. A new wing was added to the original house, resulting in a large, yet somewhat austere building. The chapel was demolished in March 1996 shortly after the other buildings. A housing development now occupies the site but some of the trees have been retained and can still be seen from St. Helen's Road.

Former Manor House Hotel

This former hotel, on the site of the former Manor House of the old hamlet of Leamington, was once one of the premier hotels in Leamington. At one time it was the home of Matthew Wise, a man who was much involved in the development of Leamington, north of the River Leam. The building was first used as an hotel in 1847. It has now been converted to apartments. The site does have a quite distinctive claim to fame. It was on the lawns of the hotel, now occupied by a large apartment block called Manor Court, that the first Lawn Tennis club in the world was established in 1872 and where it played its games. The game was actually devised by Major Harry Gem and his friend Augurio Perera in Edgbaston but it was when they moved to Leamington in 1872 that the formation of a club to play the game was envisaged, along with two doctors from the Warneford Hospital in Leamington who joined them to play the game.

Lansdowne Crescent

Original Town Hall

This was Leamington's first Town Hall. dating from 1831. As the town expanded it was found to be inadequate and was replaced by the much more elaborate and extravagant buiding in the Parade which was built in 1883/4. This building then served for nearly one hundred years as the Police Station. When the police moved to new premises the building was used by the local Polish community as a social club. It is currently empty and awaiting a new purpose.

Built by Edward Mitchell

The Town Hall

Copies of original photographs available from Ancestral Locations

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