Somerset House Leamington Spa

[sorcha65]

I m wondering if anyone can help me. I ve been trying to trace my GGUncle who disappeared off the face of the earth around 1930. I ve been tracking his military career and on one of his medal cards there was the address of Somerset House Leamington Spa. I know nothing about this area, can anyone tell me what this place was - its some kind of business now. Anything would be great, thanks Sorcha

[Timmy]

Hello Sorcha,

 I don't think that this will help you much, but here goes....

 You don't state what time period you are interested in but I presume it would be somewhere around the Great War (First World War).

 I'm guessing that your GGUncle was in the R.A.F. as in 1919 Somerset house was listed in the local street directory as:
"Government Offices (Royal Air Force Midland Area)"

This is what the directories show from 1911 to 1922:

1911
14 Clarendon Place, Somerset House
A & Miss Barratt
Misses Barratt Kindergarten

1912  Ditto

1913 Same as above but without Miss

1914 Ditto

1915 Ditto

1916 Ditto

1917 Ditto

1918 No Directory available

1919
12 & 14 Clarendon Avenue
Government Offices (Royal Air Force Midland Area)

1920 Ditto

1921 No Directory available

1922
14 Clarendon Avenue – Void (presumably empty of occupants)

16 Clarendon Avenue (appearing for the first time in the directory)
Somerset House Chambers
- Hosking R.V., house agent
- Wharrad C. & Co., agents
- Cookson W. B., accountant
- Mansell E., F.R.I.B.A. (Mansell & Mansell architects)
- Woodhouse T., architect & surveyor


 I go past Clarendon Place on my way to work each day, but I've never paid it much attention before. I'll make a point of looking out for Somerset House next time I pass by.

Regards,

Tim

[sorcha65]

Thanks Tim, yes you re right, he was in the Royal Flying Corps and then the Raf during and after the war. He was also in Iraq in the 1920s and then God only knows! I m chipping away at him though, thanks again, Sorcha

[julieproctor61]

hi
thought you might be interested in this.  "Windows on Warwickshire" has a photograph of soldiers who were billeted in clarendon square in 1915.

http://www.search.windowsonwarwickshire.org.uk/engine/theme/default.asp

julie

[sorcha65]

Thanks for  those Julie, they were really interesting, shame I don t know what he looked like. Thanks again Sorcha