Nuneaton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nuneaton
Clockwise, from top: Market place; Nuneaton Town Hall; St Nicolas Church; Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery and George Eliot statue
Nuneaton
Population	88,813 (2021 census)
OS grid reference	SP361918
District	Nuneaton and Bedworth
Shire county	Warwickshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NUNEATON
Postcode district	CV10, CV11
Dialling code	024
Police	Warwickshire
Fire	Warwickshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Nuneaton
List of places UK England Warwickshire 52°31′23″N 1°28′05″W / 52.523°N 1.468°W / 52.523; -1.468

Nuneaton is a busy market town in Warwickshire, England. It is very close to the border with Leicestershire. In 2021, Nuneaton had a population of 88,813 people. This makes it the largest town in Warwickshire. The wider area, including nearby villages like Bulkington and Hartshill, had almost 100,000 people.

Nuneaton got its name from a nunnery (a place where nuns lived) built in the 12th century. It started as a small market town. Later, it became important for industries like ribbon weaving and coal mining.

The famous author George Eliot was born on a farm near Nuneaton in 1819. She lived in the town for much of her early life. Her book Scenes of Clerical Life (1858) describes Nuneaton. The George Eliot Hospital is named after her, and there is a statue of her in the town centre.

History of Nuneaton

Nuneaton's name comes from a Benedictine nunnery from the 12th century. Parts of this old building still exist today. Before the nunnery, the area was called 'Etone', which means 'water-town'. The town was mentioned in the Domesday Book as a small village.

A market was started in Nuneaton in 1233, and it still runs today. The name 'Nonne Eton' was first used in 1247. The nunnery closed down after 1539, during Henry VIII's time. King Edward VI School was set up in 1552. It became a sixth form college in 1974.

Nuneaton grew steadily from the 1600s. This was because it was in the middle of the Warwickshire coalfields. By 1801, Nuneaton had 5,000 people, making it one of Warwickshire's biggest towns. During the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, Nuneaton became a major centre for making textiles. Other industries like brick making and brewing also grew. By 1901, the population had reached 25,000.

Nuneaton suffered damage during the Second World War. This was because there were factories making supplies for the war in the town. The worst bombing raid was on 17 May 1941. Many houses were destroyed or damaged. After the war, much of the town centre was rebuilt.

On 6 June 1975, a train crashed near Nuneaton railway station. Six people died and many were hurt. In 2015, a plaque was put up to remember those who died and the emergency workers.

Geography and Location

Nuneaton is about 9 miles (14 km) north of Coventry. It is 20 miles (32 km) east of Birmingham. The River Anker flows through the town.

Nearby towns include Bedworth, Atherstone, and Hinckley. Nuneaton is close to the borders of Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire.

Nuneaton's Economy

Ropewalk Shopping Centre

Nuneaton's old industries, like textiles and coal mining, have mostly gone. Today, many people who live in Nuneaton travel to work in nearby Coventry and Birmingham. However, many businesses in the car, aircraft, and engineering industries are still in the area. MIRA Limited, a research centre for the motor industry, is just north of the town.

The Ropewalk Shopping Centre opened in 2005. This big development aimed to bring more shoppers and businesses to Nuneaton. It hoped to make Nuneaton a shopping choice instead of bigger cities like Birmingham or Leicester. The Abbeygate Shopping Centre is an older shopping area in the town centre.

The European head office of Holland & Barrett (a health food store) is in Nuneaton. The UK head office of FedEx (a delivery company) is also here. Bermuda Park, south of Nuneaton, has large distribution centres for companies like Dairy Crest and RS Components.

Religion in Nuneaton

St Nicolas Parish Church

Nuneaton's name shows how Christianity has shaped its history. The Benedictine nunnery that gave the town its name was destroyed. But parts of it were used to build the Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin. This is an Anglican church built in the Victorian era.

Church of England Churches

Near the town centre is the old St. Nicolas church. It is a very important historical building. All Saints' Church in Chilvers Coton is where Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) worshipped. This church was damaged in the Second World War and rebuilt by German prisoners of war. There are other Anglican churches in areas like Weddington, Attleborough, and Stockingford.

Roman Catholic Churches

There are two Catholic churches in Nuneaton. Our Lady of the Angels on Coton Road opened in 1838. St Anne's, Chapel End, Nuneaton was created in 1949, and its current church building opened in 2000.

Other Christian Faiths

Nuneaton also has churches for Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, the Salvation Army, and United Reformed faiths. A Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall is in Stockingford.

Other World Religions

Besides Christianity, people in Nuneaton also follow Islam, Sikhism, and Hinduism. There is a mosque on Frank Street and two gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in the town.

People and Population

At the 2021 census, Nuneaton had 88,813 residents. Most residents (87.3%) were White. About 8.4% were Asian, and 1.8% were Black.

In terms of religion in 2021, 50.7% of Nuneaton residents said they were Christian. A large number (40.2%) said they had no religion. Other religions included Muslim (4.1%), Hindu (1.8%), and Sikh (1.6%).

Getting Around Nuneaton

Road Travel

Nuneaton is close to major motorways like the M6, M42, and M69. The main A5 road, also known as Watling Street, runs nearby. The A444 is a fast road that goes into the town from the south and acts as a ring road around the town centre.

Train Travel

Nuneaton railway station

Nuneaton has two train stations. The main Nuneaton railway station is near the town centre. It is an important railway junction. Trains run from here to London, the North West, and to cities like Birmingham and Coventry. A newer station, Bermuda Park, opened in 2016 south of the town centre.

In the past, Nuneaton had other stations like Chilvers Coton, Abbey Street, and Stockingford, but these are now closed. There are ideas to open new stations in the future.

Bus Services

The main bus company in Nuneaton is Stagecoach in Warwickshire. Arriva Midlands also runs many routes, connecting Nuneaton to places like Tamworth, Hinckley, and Coventry.

Canals

The Coventry Canal goes through Nuneaton. The Ashby Canal runs along the south-eastern edge of the town.

Fun and Culture

Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery, Riversley Park, home of collection on writer George Eliot

Nuneaton has two non-league football teams: Nuneaton Borough and Nuneaton Griff. There are also three rugby union clubs: Nuneaton R.F.C., Nuneaton Old Edwardians, and Manor Park.

The town has a bowling club for flat green bowls. There are also three main leisure centres and a stadium managed by Everyone Active:

Nuneaton has a museum and art gallery in Riversley Park. The museum has a special display about George Eliot. Her family home, Griff House, is now a restaurant and hotel.

The Abbey Theatre is Nuneaton's only theatre. It hosts many different shows, including musicals and plays. It is run by volunteers. The Ritz Cinema on Abbey Street is a historic building known for its Art Deco style.

Nuneaton used to take part in the Britain in Bloom competition. The Nuneaton Carnival, the largest carnival in Warwickshire, happens every June.

Famous Landmarks

Statue of George Eliot on Newdegate Square

A well-known landmark in Nuneaton is Mount Judd. It is a cone-shaped hill, 158 metres (518 ft) high. It was made from waste material from a quarry. Locals sometimes call it the Nuneaton Nipple. In 2018, it was voted the best UK landmark in an online poll!

Another famous landmark is the Roanne Fountain, also called the Dandelion Fountain. It is in the middle of a roundabout in the town centre. It was built in 2000 and sprays out a lot of water. In 2016, it was named the 'UK Roundabout of the Year'.

Mount Judd, viewed from the north

The Roanne Dandelion Fountain

Places to Visit

Here are some interesting places to visit in Nuneaton:

• Abbey Theatre
• Arbury Hall
• Coventry Canal
• Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery
• Riversley Park
• Whittleford Park

Places of interest near Nuneaton:

• Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
• Battlefield Line Railway - a historic railway
• Hartshill Hayes Country Park

Education in Nuneaton

Nuneaton has many schools for different age groups.

Primary Schools

There are many primary schools across Nuneaton, including:

• Abbey CE Infant School
• All Saints' CE Primary School
• Camp Hill Primary School
• Chetwynd Junior School
• Chilvers Coton Community Infant School
• Croft Junior School
• Galley Common Infant School
• Glendale Infant School
• Lower Farm Academy
• Michael Drayton Junior School
• Middlemarch Junior School
• Milby Primary School
• Milverton House School
• Nathaniel Newton Infant School
• Nursery Hill Primary School
• Oak Wood Primary School (a special school)
• Our Lady & St Joseph Catholic Academy
• Park Lane Primary School
• Queen's CE Junior School
• St Anne's Catholic Primary School
• St Nicolas' CE Primary School
• St Paul's CE Primary School
• Stockingford Primary Academy
• Weddington Primary School
• Wembrook Primary School
• Whitestone Infant School

Secondary Schools

Nuneaton has several secondary schools:

• Etone College
• George Eliot Academy
• Hartshill Academy
• Higham Lane School
• Nuneaton Academy
• Oak Wood Secondary School (a special school)
• St Thomas More Catholic School

Further Education

For students continuing their education after secondary school, Nuneaton offers:

• King Edward VI College
• North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
• St Thomas More R.C. Sixth Form College
• Etone Sixth Form College
• Higham Lane Sixth Form College

Famous People from Nuneaton

George Eliot, born in Nuneaton

Ken Loach, film director

Many interesting people have connections to Nuneaton:

• Literature:
  • George Eliot (1819–1880), a famous Victorian novelist.
  • A. J. Quinnell (1940–2005), a thriller novelist.

• Science and Technology:
  • John Barber (1734–1793), invented the gas turbine.
  • Richard K. Guy (1916–2020), a mathematician and author.

• Media and Arts:
  • Paul Bradley (born 1955), actor.
  • Ben Daniels (born 1964), actor.
  • Gareth Edwards (born 1975), film director (Godzilla, Rogue One).
  • Larry Grayson (1923–1995), a well-known comedian and TV presenter who lived in Nuneaton.
  • Ken Loach (born 1936), a famous film and television director.
  • Mary Whitehouse (1910–2001), a TV campaigner.

• Sports:
  • Stuart Attwell, a Premier League football referee.
  • Laura Bassett, played for the England Women's National Football team.
  • Andy Goode, an England International Rugby Union Player.
  • Trevor Peake, footballer who won the FA Cup with Coventry City.
  • Dean Richards, a former England Rugby Union player and coach.
  • Nigel Winterburn, a retired footballer.
  • Jake Dennis, a racing driver and Formula E world champion.

Local Media

For local news and entertainment, Nuneaton has several options:

• Radio: Local radio stations include BBC CWR, Fosse 107, and Hits Radio Coventry & Warwickshire.
• Newspapers: The main local newspapers are The Nuneaton Telegraph and the Nuneaton News, which is published weekly.
• TV News: Nuneaton is covered by regional TV news programmes like BBC Midlands Today and ITV News Central.

Twin Towns

Nuneaton and Bedworth are twinned with these towns in other countries:

• Roanne, France
• Guadalajara, Spain
• Cottbus, Germany

See also

In Spanish: Nuneaton para niños