Secret
2 total works
The county town of Warwick is famous for its castle, St Mary's Collegiate Church, with its links to Joan of Arc, and the Lord Leycester Hospital, but much more of its history has been too often overlooked. In this book local author Graham Sutherland delves deeply into Warwick's long-forgotten and hidden histories, recounting some remarkable stories. In Secret Warwick we encounter the Tudor benefactor whose legacy still provides funding today, the setting for Mark Twain's novel A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court, rowdy election rioting in the town, and local government corruption. Grim reminders of the past include the old leper hospital, prisons and public execution sites. A reformed slaver and a vicar who was banned from his own church are among several turbulent priests. A secret garden welcomes visitors by the river. Warwick housed two prisoner of war camps in the Second World War – for Italians and Germans. St Mary's Church contains Montgomery of Alamein's banner, and a memorial to soldiers who were murdered by the SS in 1940.
With tales of remarkable characters and tucked-away or disappeared buildings and locations, this book will appeal to all who have an interest in Warwickshire`s county town.
With tales of remarkable characters and tucked-away or disappeared buildings and locations, this book will appeal to all who have an interest in Warwickshire`s county town.
Although Royal Leamington Spa has its origins several hundred years ago, then known as Leamington Priors, the town only came to prominence in the past 200 years. With the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars raging between 1792 and 1815, travel to foreign places was restricted, which led to a growth of holiday and medicinal venues in England. Leamington is one such venue, being afforded the pre x ‘Royal’ in 1838 by Queen Victoria, and still boasting a grand array of Regency buildings today. Until the 1940s, long after ‘taking the waters’ was a major attraction, Leamington remained a haven for retired people, particularly those who had held very senior positions during their previous careers. However, the growth of local industries such as the manufacturers Sidney Flavel & Co., who moved here in 1803, ultimately led to change. Today the emphasis is on a much younger multicultural population, many of whom are students.
With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Royal Leamington Spa will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this town in Warwickshire.
With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Royal Leamington Spa will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this town in Warwickshire.