George Eliot’s Schooldays.
14. Griff, the Dame School
Mr. A. W. Hoare
George Eliot’s first school, which she attended with her brother until she was five years old. Her second school (Miss Lathom’s Boarding School at Attleborough) has not been identified.
15–16. Nuneaton, The Elms
Miss C. Norton
George Eliot’s third school, near Nuneaton Church. She attended it with her sister Chrissy until 1832, when she went to Coventry.
17. Coventry, house of Rev. Francis Franklin, Cow Lane
Mr. S. T. Shipway
In 1832 was transferred from The Elms, Nuneaton, to a school in Coventry, kept by the two Miss Franklins, daughters of The Rev. Francis Franklin, Minister of Cow Lane Chapel. Mr. Franklin was the prototype of Rufus Lyon (Felix Holt).
18. Coventry, back of minister’s house, Cow Lane
Mr. S. T. Shipway
19. Coventry, memorial tablet to Rev. Francis Franklin, Cow Lane Chapel
Mr. S. T. Shipway
20. Bust of George Whitfield, at one time in Mr. Franklin’s house
Mr. A. W. Hoare
“A black bust with a coloured face, which for some reason or other was covered with green gauze.” “That,” said Mr. Lyon, “is the eminent George Whitfield . . . Providence ordained that the good man should squint; and my daughter has not yet learned to bear with this infirmity.”—Felix Holt, ch. v.
21. Coventry, Nantglyn, Warwick Row
Mr. S. T. Shipway
The Misses Franklin’s school was at this address. George Eliot left this school in 1835.
George Eliot’s Coventry Home and Circle.
In March, 1841, Robert Evans and his daughter came to live in the Foleshill Road, until her father died in 1849. The house is known as Bird Grove, and has been much altered.
22. Coventry, Bird Grove
Mr. S. T. Shipway
22a. Coventry, gates of Bird Grove
Mr. J. Bradbury
23. Coventry, Bird Grove, window of George Eliot’s study over entrance
Mr. A. W. Hoare
24–25. Coventry, Bird Grove, study and bedroom
Mr. A. W. Hoare (24)
Mr. S. T. Shipway (25)
26. Coventry, Bird Grove, room used by G. Eliot as drawing room
Mr. S. T. Shipway
27. Coventry, Bird Grove, study
Mr. S. T. Shipway
28. Coventry, Bird Grove, interior
Mr. S. T. Shipway
29. Coventry, “Rosehill”
Mr. L. P. Wilson
George Eliot first visited “Rosehill,” the home of the Brays, on November 2nd, 1841. There is an interesting account of this visit in Bray’s Autobiography, p. 76. The Brays and the Hennells exerted an important influence on her life.
30. Coventry, Ivy Cottage,
Mr. L. P. Wilson
The home of the Hennell family; adjoins “Rosehill.”