Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/825

Rh MERCASTON. 817 MERIDEN. in armour, bearing date 1440. There is a National 1. The trustees of Mrs. Barbara Kane and Mrs. Pen Voodburn are lords of the manor. MERCASTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Muggington, hund. of Appletree, co. Derby, 6 miles N.W. of Derby. It had a church at Domesday survey. Many ancient coins have been found here. MERCHISTOUN CASTLE, adjoins the limit, of Boroughmoor, co. Edinburgh, Scotland, 1 milo S. of Edinburgh. It is a mansion of great antiquity, and has been modernised by Lord Napier, whoso ancestor, the celebrated astronomer and inventor of logarithms, was born in it in 1550. A curling club meets here. MERCHLYN, a tnshp. in the par. of Gyffin, co. Car- narvon, near C'onway. HERE, a hund. in co. Wilts, contains the pars, of Kingston-Deverill, "West Knoyle, Mere, and parts of Maiden Bradley and Stourton, comprising an area of 17,290 acres. MERE, a par., post and market town, in the above hund., co. Wilts, 4 miles from Gillingham railway station, and 21 W. by N. of Salisbury. The name of this place is derived from the Saxon word Mara, signi- fying " bounds, or limits," and indicates its situation on the borders of Wilts, Dorset, and Somerset, which counties are here in conjunction with each other. The par., which is situated at the S.W. extremity of the Downs, contains the tythgs. of Chadderwiclc, Zeals, and YVoodlands. It formerly had a castle, built by Richard Earl of Cornwall, in 1253, to which duchy the manor still belongs. The site is now called Castle Hill, but all traces of the fortress have vanished. From a chalk hill in the neighbourhood rises the Ashfield water, which turns several mills in its course, and eventually joins the river Stour. The town, situated on the road from Salisbury to Wincanton, is small, and the houses irregularly built. It is well lighted with gas, and con- tains a literary institute, reading-room, bank, penny bank, established in 1859, and an ancient building used as the market-house. There are manufactories for flax- spinning and bed-ticking, and a silk-throwing mill. The town anciently sent two members to parliament, but was disfranchised on the plea of poverty. Courts leet and baron are held in October for the Duchy of Cornwall, and by the Dean of Salisbury, at which con- stables and tythingnien are chosen for the town and hundred. The soil is chalk alternating with clay. To the N.W. of he town are vestiges of a Danish encamp- ment, called " White-street camp," from a hill on which it is situated. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Sarum, yal. 330, in the patron, of the bishop. The parish church, dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, is a spacious structure, in excellent preservation, with a square embattled tower, crowned with lofty pinnacles, containing six bells. On each side of the chancel is a sepulchral chapel, and in the belfry is a carved oak ceiling. The interior of the church has a brass to Sir T. Beddiscombe, bearing date 1390. Under a niche over the porch is the figure of a saint, which appears to be of greater antiquity than the church. There is also a district church at Zeal's Green, the living of which is a perpet. cur., val. 97. The parochial charities pro- duce about 113 per annum. There are National and British schools for both sexes. The Independents and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel ; and there is a m Catholic chapel at Bonham House. A cemetery was opened in 1856. During its formation an earthen I was discovered, in which were found 400 Roman coins of ancient date. The Prince of Wales is lord of the manor. Market day is Tuesday. Fairs are held on 17th May, and 10th October. ilKKK, a tnshp. in the par. of Rostherne, hur.d. of liurklow, co. Chester, 2J miles N.W. of Nether Knuts- ford, and 9J S.E. of Warrington. The township, which is small, is situated on the high road between North- wirh and Altrincham, and is wholly agricultural. There are two schools for the education of fifty boys and the same number of girls, entirely supported by Mrs. Brooke. New Hall, the principal residence, is a red brick mansion, approached through a towered and arched gateway. In front of the mansion is a lake about 50 acres in extent, and from which the township derives its name. Thomas John Langford Brooke, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. MERE, a hmlt. in the par. of Whitwood, West Riding CO. York, 5 miles N.E. of Wakefield. MERE-HOSPITAL, an ext. par. place in the lib. and city of Lincoln, co. Lincoln. MEREHOUSE,orMURHOUSE, a tnshp. in the par. of Baschurch, co. Salop, 7 miles N.W. of Shrewsbury. MERE-TOWN, a tythg. in the par. and hund. of Mere, co. Wilts, 4 miles from Gillingham, and 21 W. of Salisbury. MEREVALE, a par. partly in the hund. of Hemling- ford, co. Warwick, and partly in the hund. of Sparken- hoe, co. Leicester, 1 milo W. of Atherstone, its railway station and post town. The village, which is small, is situated on the Coventry canal, near tho river Anker. There are traces of a Cistercian priory founded by Robert de Ferrers in 1 148. Coal mines are worked in this parish. The surface is hilly and the soil is strong clay. The living is a don. cur. in the dioc. of Worcester, val. 64. The church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, is an ancient structure, and was formerly a chapel at the gate of the aforementioned priory. The interior of the church contains an old rood-loft, three stone coffins, and several monuments and brasses to the Stratford and Dugdale families. Merevalo Hall, which has been recently re- built, is a stone building situated on lofty ground 400 feet above the sea-level. It is surrounded by a well- wooded park stocked with deer. MEREWORTH, a par. in tho hund. of Littlefield, lathe of Aylesford, co. Kent, 7 miles W. of Maidstone, its post town, and 2J from Wateringbury railway station on the North Kent line. It is a small agricultural village situated on the high road from Tunbridge to Maidstone. The par. includes the hmlt. of Old Hay, and is bounded on the N. by the Hurst woods. Mere- worth came from a crusader of the same name to tho Fitzalans, Beauchamps, Nevilles, and Fanes, The land is partly in orchards and hop-grounds, and there are some tracts of grazing land. The surface is boldly undulating, and tho soil a light-coloured mould resting on a substra- tum of Kentish ragstone. The tithes have been com- muted for a rent-charge of 822 10. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Canterbury, val. 634. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, was rebuilt by John Earl of Westmoreland, in 1744. It has a spired tower containing six bells, and an E. window and monuments of tho Fanes, with three canopied brasses of Sir John de Mereworth bearing date 1365. The register dates from 1661. The parochial charities produce about 60 per annum. There is a National school for both sexes erected at the expense of Viscount Falmouth, who resides at Mereworth Castle. The castle is situated in an extensive park with an avenue 3 miles in length. The interior of the castle has a gallery of choice pictures. The castle was built after Palladio's " Villa Capra " by Campbell, the editor of " Vitruvius Britannicus." The Viscountess Falmouth is lady of tho manor. MERFORD, a lordship in tho par. of Gresford, hund. of Mold, co. Flint, 3 miles N.E. of Wrexham. At Roft's Camp is a fine view. MERIADOG, a tnshp. in the par. of St. Asaph, hund. of Yale, co. Denbigh, 1 mile S. of St. Asaph. It is situated on the river Clwyd. In this township are many limestone caves and veins of barytes ; some of the former are from 30 to 10 feet in height, and contain fossils, bones, &c. MERIDEN, a par. in the Solihull div. of the hund. of Hemlingford, co. Warwick, 6 miles from Coventry, its post town, and 2J from the Hampton Junction of the North- Western and Derby railways. Tho parish, which is small, is situated in a valley on tho old road from London to Holyhead, and near Meridon Cross, which formerly marked the centre of England. The village of Meriden of late yoars has greatly improved, and contains many neatly built residences. The land is fertile and