{{Short description|Park in Leamington Spa, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox park | name = Newbold Comyn | image = File:A bend of the Leam - geograph.org.uk - 1560740.jpg | image_size = 200 | image_caption = | type = Country park | location = Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England | area = {{cvt|300|acre}} | coordinates = | operator = Warwick District Council | visitation_num = | status = | open = All year }} '''Newbold Comyn''' is a park on the Eastern edge of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England.
== History == right|thumb|The Beacon and view The first mention of Newbold Comyn in history was in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists one of Leamington's two mills as being situated there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20311/major_parks/503/newbold_comyn/2|title=Newbold Comyn|accessdate=12 September 2018|publisher=Warwick District Council}}</ref> The name Comyn is derived from the Norman Comyn family who owned the land between 1160 and 1200.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Monthly Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Kl764Ko_WwC|year=1809|publisher=R. Phillips|page=447}}</ref><ref>''The Future of Newbold Comyn'', Warwick District Council, pub. 2018</ref> In 1539 Richard Willes and William Morcote jointly purchased the land that was now a farm. When Richard Willes died in 1564 his son inherited the whole estate as Richard had married Morcote's daughter. At the end of the 18th century, the Revd. Edward Willes built a new house on the estate in addition to the existing farm house. The Revd. Edward Willes died in 1820, and his son, also Edward, began to sell parts of the estate for building in 1823 as Leamington grew into a spa town.<ref>''Royal Leamington Spa'', Lyndon Cave, pub. Phillimore 1988</ref> In all the Willes family held Newbold Comyn for over 400 years, until they sold most of the remaining estate to Leamington Corporation after the end of the Second World War.
The farm hosted the 1930 International Cross Country Championships, after which dinner and dancing took place at the Town Hall.<ref name=LCAC>{{cite news |date = 31 October 2018 |title = The Athletics in Leamington Cycling and Athletics Club: 90 Years and Still Running |url = https://leamingtonathletics.club/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Leamington-CAC-Athletics-90-Years.pdf |publisher = Leamington Cycling & Athletics Club |accessdate = 14 August 2025}}</ref> The Willes family moved to Honington in South Warwickshire, and sold the mansion house to a subsidiary of AC Lloyd (Builders) in 1964.<ref>''No Bricks without Mortar – 50 Years of AC Lloyd 1948–1998'', Shirley Reading (1998)</ref> The main house, which stood where now the junction of Newbold Terrace East and Fernhill Drive is, was demolished in 1965, leaving only the farm and outbuildings.<ref>Geoffrey Tyack, ''Warwickshire Country Houses'', pub. Phillimore 1994.</ref> During the Second World War the Luftwaffe dumped two bombs on the park whilst returning to base from Coventry. The craters can still be seen. The Corporation laid out the leisure park in the 1970s and the land usage has remained the same ever since although it is now run by Warwick District Council. There used to be an old steam engine on which young people could climb and play, but this had to be removed due to health and safety regulations.
== Modern day park and facilities == right|thumb|The golf course as viewed from Beacon Hill Today the park is over 120 hectares (300 acres) in area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20311/major_parks/503/newbold_comyn|title=Newbold Comyn|first=|last=|publisher=Warwick District Council|accessdate=12 September 2018}}</ref> There is rugby, football and cricket. There are two children's play areas, a skate park and a BMX track. On the town side of the park is the town's Leisure Centre which has two swimming pools (a 25-metre pool and a children's pool), an aerobics studio and a gym. Fishing is allowed on the River Leam which passes through the park. The park is mainly flat but there is a hill "Observation Hill" with a beacon at the top, from which there are fine views of south Warwickshire. Near the park entrance is the Newbold Comym Arms, converted from the farmhouse to a pub. The pub serves food, as does the leisure centre cafe. The park no longer allows barbecues.<ref>{{cite web |last=Admin |title=Where's a good place for....? |url=https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20245/parks/218/wheres_a_good_place_for |access-date=25 May 2024 |website=www.warwickdc.gov.uk }}</ref> There is car parking at the leisure centre. A Parkrun takes places every Saturday morning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parkrun.org.uk/leamington/course/|title=course – Leamington parkrun|website=www.parkrun.org.uk|accessdate=12 September 2018}}</ref>
In late 2009 the park briefly made news in the local paper when there were rumoured sightings of a lynx on the golf course. The big cat was dubbed the "Beast of Newbold Comyn" by the media.<ref>[http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/Beware-the-beast-of-Newbold.5777485.jp "Beware The Beast of Newbold Comyn" article in ''The Leamington Courier'']</ref>
In 2023 part of the previous golf course (closed in 2018) was repurposed into off-road cycle trails of different grades, total length approx. 4km, and which were designed as a free local facility.<ref>{{cite web |last=Walton |first=Kristopher |title=Newbold Comyn cycle trails |url=https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20317/newbold_comyn/1938/newbold_comyn_cycle_trails |access-date=25 May 2024 |website=www.warwickdc.gov.uk }}</ref>
===Landmarks===
The Newbold Comyn Arms, formerly a farmhouse and now a public house, is a listed building located in the park.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1381404|desc=NEWBOLD COMYN ARMS PUBLIC HOUSE, Royal Leamington Spa |accessdate=12 September 2018}}</ref>
==See also== *Royal Pump Room Gardens
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/newboldcomynpark Official Park Site on Warwick District Council page] {{Royal Leamington Spa}} {{warwick district}}
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Newbold Comyn Newbold Comyn