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Bird Grove House

Coordinates: 52°25′12″N 1°30′19″W / 52.42004°N 1.50526°W / 52.42004; -1.50526
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Bird Grove House
Bird Grove House
A view of Bird Grove House from George Eliot Road
Map
Alternative namesThe George Eliot house
General information
TypeTownhouse
AddressGeorge Eliot Road, Foleshill
Town or cityCoventry
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates52°25′12″N 1°30′19″W / 52.42004°N 1.50526°W / 52.42004; -1.50526
Technical details
MaterialStucco exterior
Floor count2
DesignationsGrade II* listed
Known forDwelling of Mary Ann Evans 1841 - 1849

Bird Grove House, known locally as the George Eliot house, is a two storey stucco house in Foleshill, Coventry. It was occupied by Mary Ann Evans (better known as George Eliot) and her father between 1841 and 1849.[1]

History

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Mary Ann Evans accompanied her father, Robert Evans, to the property in Foleshill when he retired in 1841.[2] She lived there as his housekeeper until his death in 1849, when she moved to London. Her time at Bird Grove House greatly influenced her career, as this is where she became acquainted with the Bray family and the “Rosehill Circle” of intellectuals and radicals.[3] The fictional town of Middlemarch that features in her novel of the same name is based on Coventry. The house was Grade II* listed in 1974 because of its connection to Eliot and some of its period features.[4] In more recent times the building was used as a community education centre, but now stands empty. In 2018 it was identified as being “at risk” by the organisation SAVE Britain’s Heritage.[1]

An alternate view of Bird Grove House
Another view of Bird Grove House from George Eliot Street
The east wing of Bird Grove House
A view of the south east wing, showing the building's brick construction and palisade fence

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Mullen, Enda (16 June 2018). "George Eliot's former Coventry home 'at risk'". CoventryLive. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  2. ^ "George Eliot's homes in Coventry and beyond". BBC News. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ^ Martin, Roberts (7 May 2019). "George Eliot Bi-Centenary – but not in Coventry!". Coventry Society News. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Bird Grove House, Coventry - 1076646 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2021.