A popular C19th Spa and still a fashionable town with some splendid architecture
Although the benefits of the 'taking the waters' have been known since Roman times, and their use was well recorded by the C15th, Leamington was a small village until the end of the C18th with just a few cottages clustered around the church.
The first mineral spring was discovered on land owned by the Earl of Aylesbury in 1804. A few years later a second spring was discovered by William Abbotts and Benjamin Satchwell, who exploited this by building a bath house above the spring, following the success of other popular spa towns like Bath and Harrogate. By 1808 there were another five springs with bath houses
Numbers of visitors increased as people flocked to Leamington, paying to drink the waters and bathe in the spa water. Free spa water was provided for the poor by a basin outside Lord Ayleford’s well, as he believed it should remain free for everyone.
The town began to grow rapidly. Crescents lined with large houses were built along with assembly rooms, hotels and theatres.
Roads were paved and trees planted. The Royal Pump Rooms and Baths were built near the River Leam at a cost of £30,000 in 1814.
The spa treatment was claimed to cure or alleviate a huge number of disorders including ‘stiffness of tendons, rigidity of the joints, the effects of gout and rheumatism and various paralytic conditions’ The spa water also acted as a mild laxative, so increasing its potential benefits.
The population grew rapidly, not only from visitors but also people attracted to the town for work. They were houses in the narrow squalid streets and courts behind the fine Regency buildings. It was a tough life, working six days a week for low wages. Houses were damp and squalid, Large families with water supply from wells often close to the cesspits, privies and pigsties… Jephson Gardens were open free of charge on Sunday afternoons so the ‘less fortunate’ could enjoy the park.
Queen Victoria made her first visit to Leamington in 1830 and continued to visit with Prince Albert and other members of the Royal Court. In 1838 she granted the town permission to change its name to Royal Leamington Spa.
A splendid Town Hall was built in 1882
The old church of All Saints’ was no longer able to accommodate the increasing population and was pulled down and replaced by a much larger Victorian Gothic building.
Jephson Gardens and the Pump Room Gardens with it band stand, were attractive areas for visitors to promenade.
By the end of the C19th, the popularity of Spas and taking the waters began to decline and this continued during the C20th, speeded up by the effect of two world wars and increasing foreign travel. Royal Leamington Spa is now a popular place for the middle class moving out of Coventry and Birmingham, as well as the retired. These brought money into the town which is now a popular shopping centre for the area with a mix of big names and smaller specialist boutique shops.
The Spa Baths and Pump Rooms closed in the late 1990s and now house an Art gallery, museum, library and cafe as well asa very good Tourist Information desk.
There is a thriving cultural scene with the Loft Theatre Company, as well as many excellent pubs and restaurants.
Jephson Gardens have been restored back to their Victorian splendour with a new conservatory and are a very attractive green space in the centre of the town.
The War Memorial stands in gardens lining the Parade.
Rowing boats can be hired at the Leam Boat Centre.
Tourist Information has leaflets with walks around the town or else learn about Sam Lockhart and his elephants. The elephant wash can still be seen where the elephants were taken down to the River Leam to bathe.
Royal Leamington Spa is often ignored by tourists who head for Warwick or Stratford upon Avon. This is a shame as it is a very attractive town and well worth a visit with its wide streets, good range of shops, attractive architecture and gardens.
Website
cont...
Although the benefits of the 'taking the waters' have been known since Roman times, and their use was well recorded by the C15th, Leamington was a small village until the end of the C18th with just a few cottages clustered around the church.
The first mineral spring was discovered on land owned by the Earl of Aylesbury in 1804. A few years later a second spring was discovered by William Abbotts and Benjamin Satchwell, who exploited this by building a bath house above the spring, following the success of other popular spa towns like Bath and Harrogate. By 1808 there were another five springs with bath houses
Numbers of visitors increased as people flocked to Leamington, paying to drink the waters and bathe in the spa water. Free spa water was provided for the poor by a basin outside Lord Ayleford’s well, as he believed it should remain free for everyone.
The town began to grow rapidly. Crescents lined with large houses were built along with assembly rooms, hotels and theatres.
Roads were paved and trees planted. The Royal Pump Rooms and Baths were built near the River Leam at a cost of £30,000 in 1814.
The spa treatment was claimed to cure or alleviate a huge number of disorders including ‘stiffness of tendons, rigidity of the joints, the effects of gout and rheumatism and various paralytic conditions’ The spa water also acted as a mild laxative, so increasing its potential benefits.
The population grew rapidly, not only from visitors but also people attracted to the town for work. They were houses in the narrow squalid streets and courts behind the fine Regency buildings. It was a tough life, working six days a week for low wages. Houses were damp and squalid, Large families with water supply from wells often close to the cesspits, privies and pigsties… Jephson Gardens were open free of charge on Sunday afternoons so the ‘less fortunate’ could enjoy the park.
Queen Victoria made her first visit to Leamington in 1830 and continued to visit with Prince Albert and other members of the Royal Court. In 1838 she granted the town permission to change its name to Royal Leamington Spa.
A splendid Town Hall was built in 1882
The old church of All Saints’ was no longer able to accommodate the increasing population and was pulled down and replaced by a much larger Victorian Gothic building.
Jephson Gardens and the Pump Room Gardens with it band stand, were attractive areas for visitors to promenade.
By the end of the C19th, the popularity of Spas and taking the waters began to decline and this continued during the C20th, speeded up by the effect of two world wars and increasing foreign travel. Royal Leamington Spa is now a popular place for the middle class moving out of Coventry and Birmingham, as well as the retired. These brought money into the town which is now a popular shopping centre for the area with a mix of big names and smaller specialist boutique shops.
The Spa Baths and Pump Rooms closed in the late 1990s and now house an Art gallery, museum, library and cafe as well asa very good Tourist Information desk.
There is a thriving cultural scene with the Loft Theatre Company, as well as many excellent pubs and restaurants.
Jephson Gardens have been restored back to their Victorian splendour with a new conservatory and are a very attractive green space in the centre of the town.
The War Memorial stands in gardens lining the Parade.
Rowing boats can be hired at the Leam Boat Centre.
Tourist Information has leaflets with walks around the town or else learn about Sam Lockhart and his elephants. The elephant wash can still be seen where the elephants were taken down to the River Leam to bathe.
Royal Leamington Spa is often ignored by tourists who head for Warwick or Stratford upon Avon. This is a shame as it is a very attractive town and well worth a visit with its wide streets, good range of shops, attractive architecture and gardens.
Website
cont...
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