Nuneaton

Nuneaton is a town in northern Warwickshire England which has a population of around 70,000. The town is roughly 8 miles (12 km) north of Coventry.

The famous 19th century author George Eliot was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the area for much of her early life. Nuneaton is also the birthplace of film director Ken Loach, and the former "standards and morality" campaigner Mary Whitehouse. It was also the birhtplace and home of the game show host Larry Grayson.

In fiction, Nuneaton is refered to as "Milby" in the George Elliot novel Scenes of Clerical Life (1858)

The town is near the M6 and M69 motorways, and the A5 road. It is also an important railway junction, it is served by the West Coast Mainline and also by the Birmingham to Leicester railway line, and by a line to Coventry via Bedworth. The Coventry Canal and the River Ankler run through the town.

History

Nuneaton's name came from a 12th century Benedictine nunnery (parts of which still survive) from which much of the town grew around. Prior to this it was a settlement known as 'Etone'. The first recorded use of the modern name was in 1247 when a document recorded it as 'Nonne Eton'.

Nuneaton grew gradually from the 17th century onwards, due to it's position at the centre of the Warwickshire coalfields. At the time of the first national census in 1801 Nuneaton was already one of the largest towns in Warwickshire, with a population of 5,000.

During the industrial revolution in the 19th century , Nuneaton developed a large textile industry. Other industries which developed in the town included brick and tile making and brewing. By 1901 the population of Nuneaton had grown to 25,000.

The town suffered heavy bombing damage during World War II, and as a result, much of the town centre was re-built.

Nuneaton's traditional industries like textiles and manufacturing have declined drastically in the postwar years. Due to its good transport links, Nuneaton is now largely a commuter town for nearby Coventry. However electronics and distribution remain major economic activities in the town.