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by Peter Lee
One of the oldest surviving buildings in Nuneaton is the old school at Chilvers Coton. It was built at the behest of Lady Elizabeth Newdigate and the first part was opened in the 18th century. This was the first building in Chilvers Coton specifically built as a schoolroom. There had been earlier schools but these were at the homes of the schoolteachers themselves.Earlier teachers were John Holmes who appears in the census of 1684 and Jane Hutt, school dame, in 1692. Both were paid by Sir Richard Newdigate (1644-1710) who took an unusual paternal interest in the children of his estate workers at that time. He declared that the education of youth was of great importance especially as it "extends itself unto Posterity". To try and ensure that his servant's children attended school he declared "Whereas the Lord of this Manor hath given a certain sum of money to Henry Simes for the teaching of poor children, their parents doe refuse or Neglect their sending them to School". All parents who had defaulted in this way were to forfeit five shillings, (rather more than the children might earn by working if they were kept from school.)
Over the years various alterations were carried out, particularly in 1846 when large extensions were made until the building we see today was complete at the end of the 19th century. It had become the principle school in Chilvers Coton.
Amongst the well documented Newdigate papers at Warwick County Records Office are details of the actual construction of the first school house in 1735 adding up to a total cost of £73.19s.5d. For example payments to: James Morris, the carpenter £9.16s.0d; William Johnson for 11,600 bricks, £6.0s.0d. And Thomas Alexander 6,600 tiles, £4.7s.6d.
In the Nuneaton Observer 3rd June 1881 it was reported that "Sir Roger Newdigate bart, by will 1806 gave to the lords of the manors of Arbury, Griff, and Chilvers Coton, and his heirs or successors, six shares of £100 each in the Coventry Canal Company, to be held in trust to pay the dividends in the following manner: - To the schoolmaster of the charity school founded by Lady Newdigate, founded by Sir Roger Twisden Bart. £4 annually the gift of his ancestors, and also £5 being the interest on £100, legacy of Mr. Edward Dudley, and in addition thereto £11 so as to make it a salary of £20, annually clear of all deductions, to the said schoolmaster to teach 30 poor boys in the old school at Chilvers Coton, one part thereof was appointed for his residence. He also directed that a further sum of £10 annually should be paid out of the same dividend to a school mistress for whose residence the other part of the school house was allotted, on condition that she should teach 20 poor girls, all the said children to be nominated by the said lord or lords."
The building itself is an interesting structure because it is one of the few buildings left using Attleborough sandstone, a soft grey material extracted from the extensive quarries, which were once worked in Quarry Lane off Lutterworth Road.
It has often been speculated that either the youthful George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans 1819-1880) went to school there. Much has been made of this connection, although I feel sure that this was not the case since it is well known that her father who was agent to the Newdigate family's Arbury estate, had his daughter educated privately, and it seems more likely that she was involved with it between 1838 and 1841 in her last three years at Griff. Her biographer, Gordon Haight, wrote of her: "But Mary Ann was energetically engaged in private benevolence among the poor of Griff and Chilvers Coton. She organized a clothing club for the families of unemployed weavers, left idle for long periods by the vagaries of fashion. Years later, it was recalled, one of these poor people had said when she left Griff, 'We shall never have another Mary Ann Evans' "
Therefore, it does no harm to speculate that this was the period when Mary Ann visited the old school, perhaps assisting with the teaching of poor children or attending to their domestic requirements there.
For many years the principle of the Chilvers Coton School was Mr. George Mosedale and there are local people alive today who were taught by him in the 20's and 30's.
In 1987 the Nuneaton Civic Society saved the old building, which had been a council depot for many years, from demolition. Our thanks must go to John Burton of the Bedworth Society and Mrs. Beryl Kerby who were instrumental in putting forward the proposal to save it. Beryl particularly has tirelessly worked towards its preservation over the years and under her excellent stewardship many repairs and internal remedial works have been possible. The Chilvers Coton Trust now runs the building. Many generations of Nuneatonians must be thankful for their good works.
The old school at Chilvers Coton is open to visitors on Saturday September 5th between 10am and 4pm. All are welcome to attend. The more people appreciate this precious part of their heritage the surer it will be that future generations will know and cherish it too.
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