August 3rd, 2010 
admin The residents of Nuneaton – Warwickshire are very proud of the fact that literary genius, Mary Ann Evans, grew up in their town during the 1800s. She adopted the male pen name of George Eliot so that people would take her work seriously. At that time, women were thought of as second class citizens. Nuneaton is the biggest town in the English county of Warwickshire. It has a population of 70,000.
Its name comes from a mixture of two words. ‘Nun’ was taken from a nunnery that the Benedictine Order set up during the 12th Century. The settlement at the time was known as ‘Etone’. The two words were linked together in 1247 and the town was called ‘Nonne Eton’. Over time it changed to a single word, i. E. Nuneaton.
It lies on the perimeter of Warwickshire’s coal fields. In its early days, Nuneaton derived its income from weaving, mining and engineering. As a result of the industrial revolution, the town rapidly grew thanks to its flourishing textile industry. This growth was accelerated further because of the prosperity experienced in the nearby towns of Coventry and Birmingham. Nuneaton became a popular commuter town.
Nuneaton offers popular attractions. The name ‘Gothic Gem of the Midlands’ has been bestowed upon Arbury Hall. For generations, the families of Sir Roger Newdigate have lovingly maintained it. You can see a beautiful collection of porcelain, and paintings by Reynolds, Devis, Lely and Romney. There are also some original furniture items by Chippendale and Hepplewhite.
If you have an appetite for literature, you must visit the Astley Book Farm. It’s the most comprehensive 2nd hand book store in the Midlands. There are over 75,000 used books, some of which are extremely rare and others are out-of-print. Bring the children because they can have fun in the Fantasy Barn.
Nuneaton boasts an award-winning market, established way back in 1226. Twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you can browse through 100s of various stalls. Traders and farmers from the Midlands offer their wares at cheap prices.
Since the turn of the 21st Century, the municipality has endeavored to create employment for the residents of Nuneaton – Warwickshire. In the past, most had to commute every day to jobs in other towns. The establishment of the new Ropework Shopping Center in 2000 helped to create an active retail and business precinct. In 2004, the town’s leisure center was extensively refurbished. It now has 2 swimming pools, a gym and a stadium for athletics and football.
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