The Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery : Nuneaton
Riversley Park
Coton Rd
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV11 5TU
024 7635 0720
Battles rage about the true home of George Eliot, but what is not in dispute is that Nuneaton more than any other British city has taken her to it's heart and invested in infrastructure to bring the Eliot story to life. The crowning jewel of that investment is the intimate Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery, located in the perfect setting of Nuneaton's Riversley Park gardens. Here you will find a recreation of the drawing room of George Eliot's London home, The Priory and a perfectly formed Eliot memorabilia collection both on permanent display. This would be enough to recommend the museum but it's just the beginning of a story that delivers some wonderful paintings (including the astonishing Before the Deluge by Roelandt) and an ongoing, often quirky, series of themed exhibitions and events. Exhibitions over the next few months include a look at the area between the wars, Titanic and a variety of artwork by talented artists. The summer holidays will once again herald the popular free childrens activities every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Newly arrived on display are objects related to famous Nuneaton son Larry Grayson, including the chair he used at his last public performance. You can hear the animals speak in the recently refurbished Picture Gallery where a mini sound piece has proved popular with all ages and a new film in the history gallery highlights the sacrifices made by local people during the first World War. As always all the galleries have something to keep the younger visitor occupied and the addition of a tearoom makes a comfortable addition to a visit.
This is a real museum, public facing and accountable, run by people that are friendly and who care. Enthusiasm is the standard not the exception and the experience is an interesting and evocative one , never stuffy. It's hard to recommend the Museum and Gallery highly enough. Perfect