Edward Melly

Born into a wealthy Liverpool family, Melly is most remembered for his philanthropic work in his adopted hometown of Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

He was brought to Nuneaton in 1882 to manage the Griff Colliery which had been sold by Lord Newdegate to Edward's mentor, Emerson Bainbridge.

[3] In 1890, he donated land for the Chilvers Coton Recreation Ground and gave four of the Pingles Fields "to be used as a public park forever".

[2][1] Melly donated the lands for Riversley Park, which was named after his Liverpool home, which opened on July 6, 1907.

[3][1][6] During the First World War in 1916 he established a Red Cross hospital in Weddington Hall in order to treat sick and wounded soldiers.

[2] On 17 May 1941, Melly's home on Church Street, Nuneaton, was hit by a bomb dropped during a large German air raid on the town.