£10,000 for George Eliot commemoration

Warwickshire County Council has injected £10,000 into a programme of measures to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Eliot next year.

The great writer was born in Nuneaton on November 22, 1819, and went on to become one of this country’s most esteemed novelists.

Arrangements for a full programme of events to mark this milestone are well advanced with a view to it benefiting the town and borough, and visitors to it, not just during 2019 but well beyond.

The county council has agreed a £10,000 funding package, in partnership with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, to create an improved George Eliot visitor experience in Nuneaton.

The money will support the development of a visitor trail around the town, making use of Eliot’s famous quotations, and explore opportunities for an “augmented reality” trail. 

There are also plans to create an annual event to celebrate the author.  More details of this and the full programme of events will be announced in the New Year.

In addition to this, Warwickshire County Council is working with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to develop a new brand and identity for Nuneaton, to use on promotional material to attract visitors to the town.

Warwickshire County Council visitor economy manager Alex Holmes said: "George Eliot is rightly regarded as one of the great English writers and the 200th anniversary of her birth in Nuneaton is something that we  should all celebrate.

"The county council is pleased to be able to contribute to a package of events and initiatives that will enhance the visitor experience in Nuneaton, and therefore benefit the local economy, for years to come."