1814 The Beauties of England, Nuneaton

The Town of Nuneaton appears entirely indebted for its early prosperity to teh foundation of a monastery, in the time of King Stephen. This religious house was founded by Robert, Earl of Leicester, and was of the order of Foutevrault, in Poictiers; which order possessed the peculiaroty of comprehending both monks and nuns within the pale of one establishment. It is certain that there was, at one period, a Prior resident at Nuneaton, but it is not ascertained that he had any monks in his train. The prioress had superior rule in the house.

This monastry was well endowed, and the nuns obtained, in the 10th of Henry III the grant of a weekly market. In the 23d of the same reign they procured a charter for a yearly fair. On teh dissolution of religious houses, in the reign of Henry VIII the revneues were stated at 290l. 15s The prioress and the whole of the nuns were favoured with pensions for life. A portion of the building, comprehending oe entire arch and large fragments of walls, yet remains, as a melancholy memorial, at the north-west extremity of the town, in the adjacency of the road leading towards Atherstone.

THe church of Nuneaton is a respectable Gothix building, though by no means sufficiently spacious for the accommodation of the inhabitants. here is a freeschool, founded in the 6th of Edward VI. towards the establishment of which that king gave three closes of ground, lying within the liberties of Coventry and formerly belonging to the Trinity Gild. This town derives considerable benefit from the weaving of ribbons, and has a weekly market (which is, however, not largely attended) and three annual fairs.

The number of houses and inhabitants is thus stated, in the returns under the Population Act for 1811 :- houses inhabited, 1095; houes uninhabited, six; total of persons, 4,947.

The Beauties of England and Wales. By J. Britton, J. Norris Brewer, Rev. J. Hodgson, and F. C. Laird. Published 1814