Nuneaton(/nəˈniːtən/nə-NEE-tən) is amarket towninWarwickshire,England, close to the county border withLeicestershireto the north-east.[1]Nuneaton's population at the2021 censuswas 88,813,[2]making it thelargest town in Warwickshire.Nuneaton's urban area, which also includes the large villages ofBulkingtonandHartshill,had a population of 99,372 at the 2021 census.[3]
Nuneaton | |
---|---|
Clockwise, from top: Market place;Nuneaton Town Hall;St Nicolas Church;Nuneaton Museum & Art GalleryandGeorge Eliotstatue | |
Location withinWarwickshire | |
Population | 88,813 (2021 census) |
OS grid reference | SP361918 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | NUNEATON |
Postcode district | CV10, CV11 |
Dialling code | 024 |
Police | Warwickshire |
Fire | Warwickshire |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Nuneaton gained its name from a medievalnunnerywhich was established in the 12th century, when it became a small market town. It later developed into an important industrial town due to ribbon weaving and coal mining.
The authorGeorge Eliotwas born on a farm on theArbury Estatejust outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for much of her early life. Her novelScenes of Clerical Life(1858) depicts Nuneaton. TheGeorge Eliot Hospitalis named after her,[4]and there is also a statue of her in the town centre.
History
editEarly history
editNuneaton was originally anAnglo-Saxonsettlement known as 'Etone' or 'Eaton', which translates literally as 'settlement by water', referring to theRiver Anker.'Etone' was listed in theDomesday Bookas a small farming settlement with a population of around 150. In the early 12th century, the settlement came under the control of theBeaumont family,and in around 1155Robert de Beaumontgranted hismanorof Etone to the FrenchAbbey of Fontevraud,who established aBenedictinenunneryhere, which became known asNuneaton Priory.This led to Etone becoming known as Nuneaton.[5]A document from 1272 referred to the town asNunne Eton.[6]The nunnery was closed in 1539 during King Henry VIII'sDissolution of the Monasteries,and subsequently fell into ruin. However part of the Abbey church was rebuilt in the 19th and early 20th centuries.[7][8]
Nuneaton obtained amarketcharter in around 1160 fromHenry IIwhich was reconfirmed in 1226, causing Nuneaton to develop into amarket townand become the economic focal point of the local villages.[9]
In 1485, theBattle of Bosworth,the last significant battle of theWars of the Roses,was fought around 5 miles (8 km) to the north-west of Nuneaton, across the border in nearbyLeicestershire.[10]
King Edward VI Schoolwas established in 1552 by a royal charter byKing Edward VI.[11]The school was originally a fee-paying school, although the county council provided some scholarships, and became non-fee-paying as a result of theEducation Act of 1944.Thevoluntary aided schoolhad around 400 boys in the 1960s. In 1974 thegrammar schoolclosed and was re-established as asixth form college.[12]
In 1543, Nuneaton was recorded as containing 169 houses, with a population of around 800. By 1670 this had grown to 415 households, with a population of 1,867, and by 1740 the population had risen further to 2,480.[13]
The growth of industry
editRibbon weaving
editIn the mid-17th century, asilkribbonweaving industry became established in the local area which included Nuneaton,Bedworth,Coventryand much ofNorth Warwickshire.This industry was enhanced by the arrival of FrenchHuguenotimmigrants in the latter part of the century, who brought with them new techniques. This industry operated as acottage industry,with the weavers working fromtop-shops;a type of building which was specific to the local area, and had living space in the two lower floors, and a workshop with very large windows on the top floor. This industry flourished for nearly two centuries, albeit with periodic booms and slumps. However, by the early 19th century the industry was struggling to compete against thefactoryproduced textiles from northern manufacturers, and the local weavers strongly resisted adopting factory production methods as they valued their independence. Nevertheless, in 1851 46% of Nuneaton's workforce was still employed by the ribbon trade. The industry was finally wiped out after 1860 by cheap imports, following theCobden–Chevalier Treaty,which removed duties on imported French silks.[14]This caused a slump in the local economy which lasted nearly two decades.[15]
Coal mining
editAnother major industry which grew in the local area wascoal mining.Nuneaton was located in theWarwickshire coalfield,and mining was recorded locally as early as 1338. However the lack of efficient transport and the primitive mining techniques kept the industry on a small scale.[16]Mining did not start to develop on a larger scale until the 17th century, with the dawn of theIndustrial Revolution,which led to greater demand for fuel and technical advancement.[clarification needed]A major problem was the drainage of water from coal pits as they were dug deeper. The use of awaterwheelto drive drainagepumpswas recorded as early as 1683. The first recorded use of anatmospheric engine;a primitive form ofsteam engine,to pump water from coal pits was recorded at Griff Colliery in 1714; this was the first recorded use of a steam engine in Warwickshire. Another major problem facing the industry was poor transport. SirRoger Newdigate,who owned several local coal mines, developed aturnpike roadto Coventry in the 1750s, which partially resolved this problem. Early on Newdigate recognised the potential ofcanalsas a means for transporting bulk cargoes. He developed a system ofprivate canalson his land on theArbury Estatefrom 1764 to transport coal, and helped promote theCoventry Canal,which opened from Coventry to Nuneaton in 1769, before being finally completed toStaffordshirein 1790. He also helped promote theOxford Canal.Ironically, the new canal system led to a decline in the Warwickshire coal industry after 1800, as it was exploited by Staffordshire coal producers to capture the local market. The local coal industry was not exploited to its maximum potential until the development of the railway network in the 19th century.[17]
The first railway to reach Nuneaton was theTrent Valley Railwaywhich opened in 1847, linking Nuneaton to the growing national railway network atRugbyandStafford.This was followed by abranch line to Coventryin 1850. In 1864 a line was opened fromBirmingham to Leicestervia Nuneaton, and this proved to be the most important for the local economy, as it linked Nuneaton with the rapidly growing town (later city) ofBirmingham.Due largely to this, the local coal industry expanded rapidly in the latter half of the 19th century, with production from the Warwickshire coalfield expanding nearly tenfold between 1860 and 1913 from around 545,000 tons to over five million tons. The industry peaked in the early 20th century; in 1911 one third of the male workforce in Nuneaton were employed as miners.[18]The industry, however, declined rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, with the last coal mine in Nuneaton closing in 1968, although Newdigate colliery at Bedworth lasted until 1982.[19]The last Warwickshire coal mine at nearbyDaw Millclosed in 2013.[20]
Other industries
editNuneaton underwent a period of rapid growth from the 1880s onwards with the rapid development of an array of industries. These includedbrickandtilemaking,brewing,the production ofhatsand leather goods. andengineering.[7][21]At the time of the first national census in 1801 Nuneaton was one of the largest towns in Warwickshire, with a population of 5,135. By 1901 this had grown to 24,996.[22][8]
Civic history
editNuneaton was anancient parish,which covered the hamlets ofAttleboroughandStockingfordas well as the town itself.[23]The parish was made alocal board districtin 1850, which was Nuneaton's first modern form of local government; previously it had been governed by itsvestryandmanorial court.[24]The local board's main responsibilities were to provide the town with infrastructure such as paved roads, clean drinking water, street lighting and sewerage.[25]The neighbouring parish ofChilvers Cotonwas made a separate local board district at the same time.[26]
The two local board districts of Nuneaton and Chilvers Cotton were merged in 1893. The following year, all such districts were converted intourban districts.[27]The Nuneaton and Chilvers Coton Urban District was elevated to become amunicipal boroughin 1907 under the single name of Nuneaton.[28]The borough was enlarged several times, notably in 1931 when it absorbed the neighbouring parish ofWeddington.[7]In 1974, the Municipal Borough of Nuneaton was merged withBedworthUrban District to create anon-metropolitan districtwithborough statuswhich was initially called Nuneaton, but changed its name toNuneaton and Bedworthin 1980.[29][30]
Second World War
editNuneaton suffered severe bomb damage duringThe Blitzin theSecond World Warbetween 1940 and 1942. The heaviest bombing raid on Nuneaton took place on 17 May 1941, when 130 people were killed, 380 houses were destroyed, and over 10,000 damaged.[31][32]
Postwar to present
editIn 1947 the architect and town plannerFrederick Gibberdwas appointed to create a masterplan to redevelop the bomb damaged town centre. The redevelopment, which continued until the 1960s included the features typical of town planning from that era, including a new ringroad,indoor shopping centre,administrative centre and library.[33]
Nuneaton continued to expand in the latter 20th century. In the early postwar years the need arose for low-cost housing, and in response to this around 2,500council houseswere built during the 1950s, the largest such development was atCamp Hill,where 1,400 new houses were built by 1956, while around 1,100 new council houses were built at new estates at Hill Top, Caldwell and Marston Lane by 1958. Following this, Nuneaton's expansion was largely driven by private developments atWeddington,St Nicolas Park,WhitestoneandStockingford.[33]
Historic population
editYear[34][35] | 1801 | 1851 | 1871 | 1881 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1951 | 1971 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 5,135 | 13,532 | 12,868 | 13,714 | 24,996 | 37,073 | 41,875 | 46,291 | 54,407 | 66,979 | 70,721 | 86,552 | 94,634 |
Geography
editNuneaton is 9 miles (14 km) north ofCoventry,18 miles (29 km) east ofBirminghamand 16 miles (26 km) south-west ofLeicester.[36][10]
The town centre lies 2 miles (3 km) south-west of theLeicestershireborder (which is defined by theA5 roadthe former RomanWatling Street), 9 miles (14 km) south-east ofStaffordshire,and 12 miles (19 km) south-south-east fromDerbyshire’s southernmost point.[36][10]
Nuneaton lies very close to thegeographic centre of England,which since 2002 has been recognised as being atLindley Hall Farm,about 3 miles (5 km) north of Nuneaton, across the county border in Leicestershire.[37]
TheRiver Ankerruns through the town. Nuneaton town centre was historically prone to regular flooding from the Anker, with especially bad floods in 1932 and 1968. This was relieved in 1976 by the construction of aflood relief channel.[38][39]
Nuneaton forms the largest part of the Nuneaton built-up area which also includes the large villages ofHartshillandBulkington.It had a population of 132,236 at the2001 Census.[40]In the2011 Censusit had a considerably lower population of 92,698[41]becauseHinckleyceased to be defined as part of the urban area. In the2021 Censusthe urban area was recorded as having a population of 99,372, and comprising Nuneaton, Bulkington and Hartshill.[3]
On 19 July 2022, it recorded its highest ever temperature of 38 °C during the2022 United Kingdom heat wave.[citation needed]
Towns close to Nuneaton includeBedworth,AtherstoneandHinckley,withTamworth,Rugby,ColeshillandLutterwortha little further afield.[36][10]
Districts and suburbs of Nuneaton
editWithin the borough boundaries:
- Abbey Green
- Arbury
- Attleborough(including Maple Park)
- Bermuda
- Caldwell
- Camp Hill
- Chapel End (including The Shires)
- Chilvers Coton
- Galley Common
- Griff
- Grove Farm
- Heath End
- Hill Top
- Horeston Grange
- Robinson's End
- St Nicolas Park
- Stockingford(including Glendale, Sunnyside, Black-a-Tree, Church Farm)
- Weddington
- Whitestone(including Crowhill)
- Whittleford (including Poplar Farm, Hawthorn Common)
Adjacent or adjoining places, some of which fall outside the borough boundaries:
Politics
editNational
editNuneaton is part of the constituency of the same name in theHouse of Commons.The constituency is currently represented by theLabour PartyMember of Parliament(MP),Jodie Goslingwho was first elected in the2024 general election.
From1935to1983,Nuneaton was a safeLabourseat, but it has become more marginal. Between 1983 and1992,theConservative Partyheld the seat, until losing it back to Labour. For the next 18 years, the Labour Party (in the form ofBill Olner) was the local representative at Parliament, until his retirement. The Conservatives won it back at the2010 general election,withMarcus Jonesholding the seat until 2024.
Local
editThere are two-tiers of local government covering Nuneaton;Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Councilas the lower tier andWarwickshire County Councilas the upper tier. Nuneaton is anunparished areaand so there is no tier of administration below the Borough council. Nuneaton and Bedworth council was once solidly controlled by the Labour Party, but has in more recent years become more volatile: It was Labour controlled from its creation in 1974, until the2008 local elections,when the Conservatives gained control, ending 34 years of Labour rule.[42][43]However, the period of Conservative control was relatively short lived. The Labour Party won two seats from the Conservative Party in the2010 local elections,giving no party overall control of the council (but leaving the Labour Party as the largest grouping).[44]In 2012 Labour gained a further 8 seats to regain overall control which they lost again to no overall control in 2018. In the May 2021 elections, the Conservatives once more gained a majority; winning ten seats from Labour and one from an independent.[45]However, the pendulum swung back again in the May 2024 elections, when Labour again won back control of the council, winning 15 seats.[46]
Economy
editNuneaton's traditional industries like textiles, mining and manufacturing have declined significantly in the post-war years. Due to its transport links, Nuneaton is to some extent acommuter townfor nearby Coventry and Birmingham. However a relatively large number of businesses involved in the automotive, aerospace and engineering supply chains industries are active in the area.MIRA Limited,formerly the Motor Industry Research Association, is based on a disused wartime airfield on theA5,to the north of the town.[47]
One of the biggest developments in the town's history, the multimillion-poundRopewalk Shopping Centre,opened in September 2005 in the hope that it will give the town extra income from the shopping, attract more visitors and retailers, and attract shoppers as an alternative to larger retail centres such as Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester and Solihull.[48]An older shopping centre, theAbbeygate Shopping Centrein the town centre was first opened in the 1960s, and was formerly known as Heron Way.[49]
The European headquarters ofHolland & Barrettare based in the town, as is the UK head office ofFedEx.[47]While Bermuda Park, which is south of Nuneaton, is the location of the national distribution centres ofDairy CrestandRS Components.Nuneaton is also the location of several international online marketing companies.
In 2017 the Nuneaton and Bedworth borough was less prosperous than the rest of Warwickshire, reflecting the long established north–south divide in the county. The average annual workplace wage in Nuneaton and Bedworth was £21,981, the lowest in the county and below the Warwickshire average of £28,513 (and UK £28,296) although the productivity gap had narrowed with the rest of Warwickshire since 2009.[47]
Religion
editNuneaton's name reflects the effect thatChristianityhas had upon the town's history. Although theBenedictinenunnery which gave the town its name was destroyed at the time of theReformation,the remaining fragments were incorporated into theAnglicanchurch building now known as theAbbey Church of St Mary the Virginin Manor Court Road. This is aVictorianconstruction.
Church of England
editNear the town centre, but unusually not a part of it and outside the ring road, lies the medieval church ofSt. Nicolas– a grade I listed building.[50]Chilvers Cotoncontains All Saints' Church, where Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) worshipped andJustin Welby,nowArchbishop of Canterbury,served as acurate.[51]This was badly damaged by bombing during theSecond World War,and rebuilt largely by Germanprisoners of war.There are also Anglican churches in Weddington (St James's), Attleborough (Holy Trinity), Stockingford (St Paul's), Galley Common (St Peter's), Abbey Green (St Mary's), and more recently built (1954), in Camp HillSt Mary's and St John's.
Roman Catholic Church
editThere are two parishes in the town serving theCatholiccommunity in Nuneaton.Our Lady of the Angelson Coton Road, was opened in 1838 (originally as St Mary's). The building, designed byJoseph Hansom,was extensively remodeled in 1936. The Parish ofSt Anne's, Chapel End, Nuneatonwas created in 1949 out of the Parish of Our Lady of the Angels (which originally covered the whole town). The original church building was replaced with the existing church, which was opened in 2000.
Other Christian traditions
editIn the town,Baptist,Methodist,Wesleyan Reform Union,the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,Pentecostal,the Salvation Army,United ReformedandChristadelphianchurches serve their respective congregations.
A Kingdom Hall ofJehovah's Witnessesis located in the Stockingford area and Christadelphians inWhitestone.
Other religions
editIn addition to Christianity, there are also followers ofIslam,SikhismandHinduism.There is amosqueon Frank Street, Chilvers Coton,[52]and twogurdwaras(Sikh temples): the Nuneaton Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Park Avenue, Attleborough, and the Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara in Marlborough Road, Chilvers Coton.[53]There are also twoHindu templesin Nuneaton: the Shree Hindu Gujrati Samaj on Upper Abbey Street,[54]and a second Hindu temple, the Watford Kantha Swami Hindu Temple, which opened in 2021, using a converted former Methodist Chapel in Stockingford.[55]
In addition to these, there is an activeBahá'i Faithgroup in Nuneaton.[56][57]
Several Eastern European Jewish families settled in the area after the First World War, due to the economic vitality of the town at the time. Economic migrants seeking technical and agricultural opportunities in North Warwickshire relocated to Nuneaton in the 1920s and 1930s, worshipping and paying for membership seats in the Spon End Synagogue in Coventry and the Orthodox Synagogue in Leicester. Prior to World War Two, hundreds of children gained passage to the UK via theKindertransport,with a number of children being fostered in Nuneaton and subsequently settling in the immediate area, North Warwickshire and Market Bosworth. Provincial Jewish life in Nuneaton and Bedworth has waned since the 1970s, with the majority of the community leaving for larger Jewish centres of Britain, with remaining members being elderly and non-observant.[citation needed]
Demographics
editAt the2021 census,there were 88,813 residents in Nuneaton. In terms of ethnicity in 2021:[2]
- 87.3% of Nuneaton residents wereWhite
- 8.4% wereAsian
- 1.8% wereBlack
- 1.8% wereMixed.
- 0.9% were from another ethnic group.
In terms of religion, 50.7% of Nuneaton residents identified asChristian,40.2% said they hadno religion,4.1% wereMuslim,1.8% wereHindu,1.6% wereSikh,0.7% wereBuddhists,and 0.8% were from another religion.[2]
Transport
editRoad
editThe town is near theM6,theM42andM69motorways and the mainA5trunk road (Watling Street), which also acts as a border with Leicestershire and the neighbouring town of Hinckley. TheA444provides a high-speeddual-carriagewayroute into the town from the south and also acts as the often busy town centrering road.TheA47links the town with neighbouring Hinckley and onwards to Leicester, and the A4254 – Eastern Relief Road – provides direct access from the east of Nuneaton to the south, avoiding the town centre.
Railway
editThe town has two railway stations. The mainNuneaton railway station,located near the town centre, is an important railway junction and is served by theWest Coast Main Linerunning from London to the North West, the cross-countryBirmingham to Peterborough Lineand bya line to Coventry via Bedworth.A new railway station atBermuda Parkwas opened south of the town centre in 2016 on the line towards Coventry,[58]as part of the NUCKLE (Nuneaton, Coventry,KenilworthandLeamington) rail upgrade scheme.
Historically, Nuneaton was also served byChilvers Coton station,Abbey Street stationandStockingford station.Chilvers Coton station was located on the Coventry line, a short distance north of the new Bermuda Park station, and was closed in 1965. Abbey Street station and Stockingford station were on the line towards Birmingham and were both closed in 1968. In January 2017, there were proposals to open a new station at Stockingford, at a different location from the former one, which could open by 2023.[59]Warwickshire County Council have also proposed a newNuneaton Parkwaystation between Nuneaton andHinckley,which could open by 2034.[60]
Bus
editThe principal operator around Nuneaton isStagecoach in Warwickshireand the depot is located next to the fire station on Newtown Road, just west from the bus station.Arriva Midlandsalso operate a number of routes around Nuneaton with buses running toTamworth,Hinckley,Barwell,Leicester.MIRA,andCoventry.Arriva Midlands also operate service 78 toWalsgrave Hospital,a service operated byTravel de Courceyuntil the company entered administration in 2020.
In January 2020NX Coventryannounced an extension to Nuneaton on their 20 route from Coventry to Bedworth.[61]
Canal
editTheCoventry Canalpasses through Nuneaton, while theAshby Canalskirts the town's south-eastern outskirts.
Recreation and culture
editNuneaton has two non-leaguefootballteams:Nuneaton Boroughwho play in theNational League NorthandNuneaton Griffwho play in theMidland Football LeagueDivision One. Sunday League football is played in the town, with teams from Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire competing in the Nuneaton & District Sunday Football League (NDSFL).
There are threerugby unionclubs:Nuneaton R.F.C.(nicknamed"the Nuns"), who play inNational 3 Midlands,Nuneaton Old Edwardians ofMidlands 2 West (South)division and Manor Park of theMidlands 3 West (South)league.
The town is also the location of Nuneaton Bowling club, where flat green bowls is played.[62]
There are three[four?]mainleisure centresin the town owned by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and managed byEveryone Activeon the council's behalf (after a competitive tender process):
Pingles Leisure Centre | The town's main leisure centre in Nuneaton. Rebuilt in 2004 to replace the original Pingles built in 1965. Includes an indoor and outdoorswimmingareas, dance studio andgym. |
Pingles Stadium | Built in 1998. Capacity 4,000, with a 250-seater stand, athletics track, and football pitch. The stadium is home to Nuneaton Harriers Athletic Club, Nuneaton Griff Football Club and Nuneaton Triathlon Club. |
Jubilee Sports Centre | This sports hall is used for various sports includingbadminton,five-a-side football/indoor football andbasketball.There is also a scoreboard, used for major basketball and indoor football matches. The hall can be hired out for uses such askaratelessons. |
Etone Sports Centre | Another sports hall. Also hasastroturffootball pitches which are used also forhockey.The centre is in the grounds of the school which bears the same name, Etone School, but 'Everyone Active' maintains the building. |
Nuneaton has amuseum and art galleryin the grounds ofRiversley Parkadjacent to the town centre. The museum includes a display onGeorge Eliot.Eliot's family homeGriff Houseis now a restaurant and hotel on the A444.[63]
TheAbbey Theatreis Nuneaton's only theatre and hosts a wide variety of performances including visiting opera and ballet companies, touring shows, musicals, pantomime and drama. Run solely by volunteers, the Abbey Theatre seats 250 plus space for wheelchair patrons.[64]
Nuneaton annually enters theBritain in Bloomcompetition and in 2000, Nuneaton and Bedworth was a national finalist. It is the location of Nuneaton Carnival, the largest carnival in Warwickshire, which takes place every June.[65]
Nuneaton was home to the smallest[citation needed]independent newspaper in Britain (theHeartland Evening News) until it was purchased in 2006 by life News & Media.
Public art in Nuneatonincludes a statue of George Eliot on Newdegate Square, and theGold Belt.
George Eliot's inspirations
editMany locations inGeorge Eliot's works were based on places in or near her native Nuneaton, including:
- Milby (town and parish church, based on Nuneaton and St Nicolas parish church);[66]
- Shepperton (based onChilvers Coton);[67]
- Paddiford Common (based onStockingford,which at the time had a large area of common land including its parish Church of St Paul's);
- Knebley (based on Astley; Knebley Church is Astley Church, while Knebley Abbey is Astley Castle);[66]
- Red Deeps (based on Griff Hollows);
- Cheverel Manor (based onArbury Hall);[68]
- Dorlcote Mill (based on Griff House);[68]
- The Red Lion (based on the Bull Hotel, now the George Eliot Hotel in Bridge Street, Nuneaton);
- Middlemarch (based on Coventry);
- Treby Magna (also thought to be based on Coventry);
- Little Treby (thought to be based on Stoneleigh);
- Transome Court (thought to be based on Stoneleigh Abbey).
Landmarks
editA major local landmark in Nuneaton, which can be seen for many miles isMount Juddwhich is a conical shaped formerspoil heap,158 metres (518 ft) high made from spoil from the former Judkins Quarry. It is also known locally as theNuneaton Nipple.[69][70]In May 2018 it was voted the best UK landmark in an online poll for theDaily Mirrornewspaper, beating competition from the likes of theAngel of the NorthandBig Ben.[71]
Another well known landmark is the Roanne Fountain, also known as the Dandelion Fountain, which sits in the middle of aroundaboutin the town centre, it was built in 2000, and features 385 spraying arms which spray out 50,000 gallons of water per hour.[72]In 2016 it was voted the 'UK Roundabout of the Year' by theRoundabout Appreciation Society,who stated that the town should feel "very proud for achieving such a high roundabout accolade."[73]
Places of interest
editPlaces of interest in Nuneaton include:
- Abbey Theatre
- Arbury Hall
- Coventry Canal
- Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery
- Riversley Park
- Whittleford Park
Places of interest near Nuneaton:
Education
editPrimary
edit- Abbey CE Infant School, Abbey Green
- All Saints' CE Primary School, Hill Top
- Camp Hill Primary School,Camp Hill
- Chetwynd Junior School,Whitestone
- Chilvers Coton Community Infant School,Chilvers Coton
- Croft Junior School,Stockingford
- Galley Common Infant School,Galley Common
- Glendale Infant School, Heath End
- Lower Farm Academy,Weddington
- Michael Drayton Junior School,Hartshill
- Middlemarch Junior School, Hill Top
- Milby Primary School,St Nicolas Park
- Milverton House School,Attleborough
- Nathaniel Newton Infant School,Hartshill
- Nursery Hill Primary School,Ansley Common
- Oak Wood Primary School (special school), Hill Top
- Our Lady & St Joseph Catholic Academy,Attleborough
- Park Lane Primary School, Grove Farm
- Queen's CE Junior School,Chilvers Coton
- St Anne's Catholic Primary School,Camp Hill
- St Nicolas' CE Primary School,St Nicolas Park
- St Paul's CE Primary School,Stockingford
- Stockingford Primary Academy,Stockingford
- Weddington Primary School,Weddington
- Wembrook Primary School,Attleborough
- Whitestone Infant School,Whitestone
Secondary
edit- Etone College,Horeston Grange
- George Eliot Academy,Hill Top
- Hartshill AcademyHartshill
- Higham Lane School,Weddington
- Nuneaton Academy,resulting from the merger of Alderman Smith School and Manor Park School),Stockingford
- Oak Wood Secondary School (special school), Hill Top
- St Thomas More Catholic School,Heath End
Further education
editNotable people
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2020) |
Literature
edit- George Eliot(1819–1880), Victorian novelist[74]
- Caroline Graham(1931), English playwright, screenwriter, novelist[75][76]
- A. J. Quinnell(1940–2005), English thriller novelist[77]
Science and technology
edit- John Barber(1734–1793), inventor of the gas turbine in 1791
- John Birch(1867–1945), motorcycle manufacturer and designer
- Richard K. Guy(1916–2020), British mathematician and author
- Henry Beighton(1687–1743), Engineer, cartographer and engraver.
- Philip Randle(1926–2006), Biochemist
Media and the arts
edit- Paul Bradley,(born 1955) actor (born in Nuneaton)[74]
- Ben Daniels,(born 1964) actor (born in Nuneaton)[74]
- Gareth Edwards,(born 1975) film director,Monsters,Godzillaand the 2016Star Warsstandalone film,Rogue One.[74]
- Chris Emmett,(born 1938) comedian, notably appearing on3-2-1
- Eyeless In Gaza,post-punk duo, formed 1980
- Fresh Maggots,early 1970s folk/psychedelic rock group
- Larry Grayson,(1923–1995) comedian, entertainer and television presenter, long-term resident of Nuneaton.[74]
- Alanand Graham "Kidder" Hammonds, musicians,Incredible Kidda Band(grew up in Nuneaton and went to Alderman Smith and Manor Park Grammar School respectively)
- Jon Holmes,(born 1969) writer, comedian and broadcaster (grew up in Nuneaton)
- Conrad Keely,(born 1972) musician, born in Nuneaton[74]
- Ken Loach,(born 1936) film and television director[74]
- Kate Quilton(born 1983) TV presenter (Food Unwrapped – Channel 4)
- Justin Welch,(born 1972) drummer with Britpop bandElastica(1991–2001) and a drummer forSuedein their formative years
- Mary Whitehouse,(1910–2001) TV campaigner (born in Nuneaton)[74]
Sports
edit- Ben Ackland,Irish cricketer (born in Nuneaton)
- Julian Alsop,footballer
- Stuart Attwell,Premier League referee
- Laura Bassett,Member of the 2015 WWC Bronze medal-winning England Women's National Football team
- Paul Best,retired cricketer[78]
- John Curtis,footballer
- Matty Fryatt,footballer
- Andy Goode,Wasps RFC & England International Rugby Union Player
- Wally Holmes,England international rugby union player
- Trevor Peake,footballer, 1987FA Cupwinner withCoventry City(born in Nuneaton)
- Mick Price,snooker player
- George Reader,football referee; officiated in the final game of the1950 FIFA World Cup
- Dean Richards,former England Rugby Union player and Rugby Union Coach (born in Nuneaton)
- Nicki Shaw,a former member of the England Women's Cricket team (born in Nuneaton)
- Andy Sullivan,golfer
- Adam Whitehead,Olympic swimmer
- Peter Whittingham,footballer (born in Whitestone, Nuneaton)
- Nigel Winterburn,retired footballer
- Jake Dennis,racing driver, 2022–23Formula Eworld champion
- Jacob Blyth,football forward forGateshead(born in Nuneaton)[79]
- John Anderson(1931–2024),BBCGladiatorsreferee from 1992 to 2000[80]
Other
edit- Andrew Copson,Chief Executive ofHumanists UK.
- Ian Corder,UK Military Representative to NATO and Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey.
- William Dorsey(1813–1878), doctor and Australian pioneer
- Richard Freeman,cryptozoologist (born in Nuneaton)
- William Gadsby,(1773–1844) an English Baptist pastor born in Attleborough who wrote many hymns.
- Jeffrey Green,historian
- Cecil Leonard Knox,soldier, recipient of theVictoria Cross(born in Nuneaton)
Media
editLocal radio stations includeBBC CWR,Fosse 107(formerly Oak 107),Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire(formally known as Mercia Sound, Mercia FM, Mercia and Free Radio Coventry & Warwickshire), andBBC Radio Leicester.
The main local newspapers are TheNuneaton Telegraph,a localised sub-edition of theCoventry Telegraph,which was launched in 1992 (when theTribuneswitched from daily to weekly production); and theNuneaton News(originally known as theEvening Newsupon launch and then theHeartland Evening News): Owned byReach plc,which is a paid-forweekly newspaper,published every Wednesday.[81]
The Nuneaton area is covered on regional TV News byBBC Midlands TodayandITV News Central
Twin towns
editThe borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth istwinnedwith the following towns:
- Roanne,Loire,Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,France
- Guadalajara,Guadalajara,Castilla-La Mancha,Spain
- Cottbus,Brandenburg,Germany[82]
References
edit- ^OS Explorer Map 232: Nuneaton & Tamworth: (1:25 000):ISBN0 319 46404 0
- ^abc"Nuneaton in Warwickshire (West Midlands) Built-up Area".City Population.Retrieved13 October2023.
- ^ab"United Kingdom: Urban Areas in England".City Population.Retrieved19 December2023.
- ^[1]Archived1 December 2007 at theWayback Machine
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 5–13.
- ^Gover, J.E.B.; Mawer, A.; Stenton, F. (1936).The Place-names of Warwickshire(PDF).The English Place-name Society. pp. 88–89.ISBN0-521049-06-7.
- ^abc"The borough of Nuneaton".British History Online.Retrieved9 March2018.
- ^ab"A History of Nuneaton".localhistories.org.14 March 2021.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 18–19.
- ^abcdOS Landranger Map 140: Leicester, Coventry & Rugby: (1:50 000)ISBN0319262383
- ^Veasey 2002,p. 44.
- ^Paterson, David, (2011)Leeke's Legacy: A History of King Edward VI School, Nuneaton.Matador PublishingISBN978-1-84876-746-1
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 38–53.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 71–77.
- ^Veasey 2002,p. 97.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 49–51.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 62–66.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 85–89.
- ^Veasey 2002,p. 122.
- ^"Daw Mill: Hundreds of jobs go at fire-hit mine".BBC News. 7 March 2013.Retrieved24 December2018.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 89–95.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 77–97.
- ^"Nuneaton Ancient Parish / Civil Parish".A Vision of Britain through Time.GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth.Retrieved21 January2024.
- ^"No. 21117".The London Gazette.16 July 1850. p. 1986.
- ^Veasey 2002,p. 78.
- ^"No. 21117".The London Gazette.16 July 1850. p. 1992.
- ^Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire.London. 1912. p. 195.Retrieved21 January2024.
{{cite book}}
:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^"Nuneaton Urban District / Municipal Borough".A Vision of Britain through Time.GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth.Retrieved21 January2024.
- ^Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 October 1980 to 1 April 1981(PDF).London: Department of the Environment. 1981. p. 17.Retrieved21 January2024.
- ^"Bedworth Timeline".The Bedworth Society.Archived fromthe originalon 25 March 2014.Retrieved21 January2024.
- ^Veasey 2002,pp. 119–121.
- ^"The day Nuneaton was bombed by the Germans – killing 130 people".Coventry Telegraph. 21 May 2017.Retrieved4 May2018.
- ^abVeasey 2002,pp. 122–126.
- ^Veasey 2002.
- ^Vision of Britain through time | population statistics 1911–1961
- ^abcOS Landranger Map 139: Birmingham & Wolverhampton: (1:50 000)ISBN0319262375
- ^"Centre of England marked in Fenny Drayton".Hinckley Times. 11 June 2013.Retrieved8 February2024.
- ^"Flooding in the Borough".Nuneaton Museum. 22 July 2020.Retrieved21 September2020.
- ^"Nuneaton Floods".Our Warwickshire.Retrieved21 September2020.
- ^"Office for National Statistics: Census 2001 - Table KS01 (Usual resident population)".ONS.Retrieved24 February2021.
- ^"2011 Census – Built-up areas".ONS.Retrieved24 February2021.
- ^"Election Results 2008, Nuneaton & Bedworth council".BBC News.19 April 2008.
- ^The full electoral declarations can be found on the following sites:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/44uc.stm AND http:// nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk/news/general-news/local-election-resultsArchived11 May 2010 at theWayback Machine
- ^2010 Local Election Results[permanent dead link ]
- ^"Elections 2021: Conservatives take control of Nuneaton and Bedworth council".BBC News.Retrieved11 November2022.
- ^"Nuneaton & Bedworth election result".BBC.Retrieved4 May2024.
- ^abc"Nuneaton & Bedworth Economic Overview 2017".Warwickshire County Council.Retrieved7 July2019.
- ^"New shopping centre set for grand opening".Coventry Telegraph. 5 August 2005.Retrieved7 July2019.
- ^"Nuneaton shopping centre sold to mystery 'local' buyer".Coventry Telegraph. 10 April 2018.Retrieved7 July2019.
- ^"Church Building".Archived fromthe originalon 26 December 2010.Retrieved11 April2011.
- ^Davies, Madeleine (9 November 2012)."Welby confirmed as Williams's successor".Church Times.Retrieved9 February2013.
- ^"Nuneaton Mosque & Muslim Society".opengovuk.Retrieved24 March2023.
- ^"UK Gurdwara List".All About Sikhs.Retrieved26 March2023.
- ^"Shree Hindu Gujrati Samaj Registered Charity Number: 516498".Charity Choice.Retrieved26 March2023.
- ^"New sign unveiled at former Nuneaton church transformed into Hindu temple".Coventry Telegraph. 23 September 2021.Retrieved26 March2023.
- ^"Nuneaton youngsters join Baha'i Faith celebration".Coventry Telegraph. 24 March 2012.Retrieved24 March2023.
- ^"SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'IS OF NUNEATON Charity number: 1064167".Charity Commission.Retrieved24 March2023.
- ^"Coventry to Nuneaton rail upgrade given go ahead".BBC News.14 December 2011.
- ^"New station in west Nuneaton could open in just six years time".Coventry Telegraph. 16 January 2017.Retrieved4 January2019.
- ^"Six new railway stations in masterplan for Warwickshire".Coventry Telegraph.19 July 2019.Retrieved15 August2019.
- ^"New bus service to run between Coventry and Nuneaton".Coventry Live. 14 January 2020.Retrieved29 January2020.
- ^"Nuneaton Bowling club".Retrieved11 August2024.
- ^"Museum and Art Gallery".Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2011.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^"Abbey Theatre".abbeytheatre.co.uk.
- ^"Nuneaton Carnival".nuneatoncarnival.org.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2007.
- ^ab"Uncover George Eliot country".Explore Northern Warwickshire.Retrieved21 July2019.
- ^"Chilvers Coton".Our Warwickshire.Retrieved12 January2019.
- ^ab"Exploring important George Eliot locations".BBC News.Retrieved23 July2019.
- ^"Mount Judd".The Mountain Guide.Retrieved11 January2019.
- ^"What is the Nuneaton nipple? We reveal all".Coventry Telegraph.Retrieved11 January2019.
- ^"Big Ben? Angel of the North? No, the UK's best landmark is Nuneaton's Mount Judd!".Coventry Telegraph. 10 May 2018.Retrieved11 January2019.
- ^"10. Interesting Facts about Nuneaton".City Visitor.Retrieved11 January2019.
- ^"'Dandelion Fountain' roundabout in Nuneaton voted best in the country ".ITV News. 27 September 2016.Retrieved11 January2019.
- ^abcdefgh"30 celebrities you probably didn't know were from Warwickshire".Coventry Telegraph. 17 March 2014.Retrieved5 March2019.
- ^McCullen, Marion (25 August 2001)."WEEKEND TV: 10 things you didn't know about... MIDSOMER MURDERS".Coventry Evening Telegraph.The Free Library.Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2013.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^Harrison, Claire (19 February 2022)."Nuneaton's incredible link to ITV's Midsomer Murders".Coventry Live.Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2022.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^"Social and Personal".The Times of Malta.14 July 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 3 May 2012.
- ^"Paul Best".Cricinfo.
- ^Bridge, Bobby (26 June 2018)."The six Nuneaton footballers who have found new clubs this summer".Coventry Live.Retrieved10 January2021.
- ^Harrison, Claire (29 July 2024)."BBC Gladiators referee John Anderson's legacy that every household in Nuneaton and Bedworth knows about".Coventry Live.Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2024.Retrieved29 July2024.
- ^"Nuneaton News - Reach".Reach Solutions.Reach plc.Retrieved6 July2021.
- ^"Our twin cities- Cottbus".cottbus.de.Retrieved24 June2013.
Bibliography
edit- Veasey, E. A. (2002).Nuneaton: A History.Phillimore & Co. LTD.ISBN1-86077-215-3.