The Nuneaton Society

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Chronicle of the 20th Century
Key Events in Nuneaton
and district in the last one hundred years
compiled by Peter Lee

1900-1909

1900
Griff No. 5 colliery closed (opened after 1851). (In 1900 three million tons of coal were raised in the Warwickshire coalfield and 8000 people were employed in it.)

Stanley Bros Ltd. Nuneaton New Colliery opened for coal raising, this replaced the Nuneaton Old Colliery sunk about 1730 and closed June 1900 (Nuneaton old colliery was re-opened in 1863 after previous closure in 1855.)

Old town hall in the Market Place realised £13,125 at public auction.

July 5th - Messrs Swinnerton & Sons timber yard in Regent Street, Nuneaton, badly damaged by fire.

8th September - Knowles Flour Mill in Mill Walk badly damaged by fire.

29th November - Opening of the New Victoria Wing, Nuneaton Cottage Hospital (later known as the Manor Hospital) in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Monday, December 17th.- The Prince of Wales Theatre Opened.

30-31st December, a large flood engulfed Nuneaton town centre. Localised flooding was common in Nuneaton but this was unusually large and is remembered as the "Great Flood of 1900". Both the River Anker and the Coventry Canal flooded.


1901
 
Arley Colliery sinking started.

Haunchwood Tunnel Colliery Brickworks ceased production. (Originally started to make bricks for the original colliery buildings and sinking works but later common bricks were made for local distribution.)

Whittleford pumping station brought into use to provide tap water for Nuneaton. Previously there had been great reliance on the local wells which served small numbers of houses. The water was often infected through dirt and the ever present cess pit close by.

26th April - Sanction given for the building of a street tramway through Nuneaton in nine separate sections with routes out to Stockingford, Chilvers Coton, Camp Hill and Attleborough Green. Designed to be 3'6" guage with car sheds and power generation plant in Arthur Street. Share capital £120,000.

Wednesday 15th May - At 5 minutes past 5 Nuneaton Market Clock started by Alderman E.F.Melly. The Clock cost £350. Made by Evans of Handsworth, Birmingham.


1902
Nuneaton Urban District became an Education Authority.

Nuneaton electricity generating station opened.

John North Birch commenced the manufacture of the "George Eliot" motorcycle in Nuneaton.


1903
The design for the "George Eliot" motorcycle sold to Bradburys of Oldham who made an exact replica.

Local Earth Tremor

The Co-Op store in Abbey Street extended.

The King William IV pub in Coton Road rebuilt by George Henry and Walter Taylor. (Originally opened in a cottage as a beer house in 1830)

8th May - Stockingford locomotive shed brought into use. It was a sub shed of Wigston shed on the Midland Railway at Leicester (Nr. 11 shed on the MR).

September - Taylor Bros. beer bottlers of Fife Street, founded.

Tuesday, 3rd November -  A court case opened between the Midland.Railway and the Haunchwood Colliery Co. The M.R. wanted to buy the mineral rights under Stockingford Tunnel and 30 yards either side as there was severe geological problems due to ground water and mining activity.


1904
John North Birch rode a "George Eliot" motorcycle from Lands End to John O'Groats.

Local Earth Tremor.

February 11th - The ancient "Plough and Ball" public house on Abbey Green collapsed whilst work was being carried out to raise internal celings and floors. The ceiling was only 5'10" or 6'0" high in places.


1905
Production of the "George Eliot" motorcycle ceased after John North Birch emigrated to New Zealand where he built that country's first car.

John Warden Clay, draper in the Market Place and founder of Nuneaton Public Library died. He lived at Bridge House, Coventry Street, a property he inherited off his grandfather the Rev. Hugh Hughes. Curate in charge of St. Nicholas Parish Church, Nuneaton.

Storm damage to Tuttle Hill windmill, sail blown off.

28th January - To commemorate local people who fought in the Boer War a statue was unveiled in Nuneaton after extensive processions through the town centre.

April - Stockingford Council School opened.

July - Queens Road School opened.

27th November - Nuneaton Golf Club opened.


1906
 
Proposals to build an electric tramway around Nuneaton finally dropped. An extension order to complete the work was refused by the Board of Trade.

Nuneaton Harriers founded.

W.L.Cartwright & Co. (Timber) Ltd. an old established Coventry firm opened a depot at Arbury Wharf, Croft Road on the Coventry Canal.

Tuttle Hill windmill rebuilt with five sail mechanism.

January - William Johnson "the People's Candidate" a Liberal was elected MP for the Nuneaton seat, beating Sir. Francis Newdigate by 1828 votes.

17th February - Mr. William Nowell (1856-1906) whose grandfather owned Haunchwood Nowells Colliery, died. He was General Manager of Haunchwood Colliery.

24th March - New infirmary and laundry opened Nuneaton Workhouse.

June - Abbey Place West  was combined into Botterill Street, and the old name dropped. Abbey Place East was re-named Abbey Place.


1907
16th January - Alderman E.F.Melly gave Riversley Park to the town + £500 to lay out the land. Officially opened 6th July.

5th March - The Nuneaton & District Record - newspaper started.

5th April - Hartshill North School opened.

August - New model lodging house opened: "Eliot House" on Abbey Green.

28th September - Nuneaton became a Borough. The charter of incorporation was widely celebrated throughout the town. 

25th November - Chilvers Coton churchgoers visit Taylor's bell foundry, Loughborough to witness the casting of a new peal of bells for Coton church.

28th November - Renard Road Train was demonstrated in Nuneaton.


1908
The Gate Hotel, Abbey Gate sold. Said not to have paid its way as a temperance hotel, in an intemperate Nuneaton.

Tenor bell erected in Chilvers Coton parish church as a memorial to George Eliot.

Park Avenue School, Attleborough, opened.

26th February - Man killed in explosion at Griff Marion Pit, Mr.B.J.Hill of 149 Coton Road.

27th October - The Nuneaton & District Records - newspaper ceased publication.

November - John Bosworth or "Jacko" was appointed town crier.

Park Avenue School, Attleborough, opened.


1909
High Street built.

The Empire Cinema was opened.

August - Thousands of people met in the Market Place, Nuneaton to attend a meeting of Suffragettes.

5th October The Crystal Palace pub closed in the Market Place, and the new Crystal Palace pub opened in Gadsby Street, Attleborough.

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