Warwick and Napton Canal (later amalgamated into the Grand Union
Canal) officially opened in 1799 as the primary means of cargo transport and
led to growth in other industries until rail gradually took over in the mid
19th century, The canal supplied coal to the gasworks on Tachbrook Road,
providing gas to light the town from 1835. Pig iron, coke and limestone were
delivered by canal, allowing a number of foundries to be established in Leamington,
specialising in cast iron stoves. Today the Eagle Foundry, dating from at least
1851, continues to manufacture Rangemaster stoves. The Imperial Foundry, dating
from around 1925, was subsequently taken over by Ford, casting engine blocks
until its closure in 2008. The prominent car parts manufacturer Automotive
Products based in the south of the town grew from a small garage to occupy a
large site. Throughout the 20th century, while tourism took a downturn,
Automotive Products expanded and built a factory in the South of the town in
1928 that is still operative in 2009, although on a much smaller scale. Karobes
Limited, with its headquarters in Queensway, was one of Britain's major
suppliers of accessories for cars between World War II and the 1970s.
Commercial parks for service providers and light industry and offices are
primarily located to the south of the town: Althorpe Street Industrial Estate,
Queensway Trading Estate, Shires Gate Trading Estate and Sydenham Industrial
Estate.
Digital media and the video games
industry
Leamington Spa and the surrounding area,
known as Silicon Spa, is a significant global centre for the games
industry, with a higher than average proportion of digital media companies
involved in games development, digital design and publishing, and over a
thousand employed directly in game development. Companies based in or
