Merrow, Surrey
Encyclopedia
The village of Merrow, in Surrey
, England
, lies on the north-east corner of Guildford
. It is about two miles from the town centre, right on the edge of the ridge of hills that forms the North Downs
. Although now a relatively anonymous suburb, the village can trace its origins back many hundreds of years. According to the Institute for Name-Studies, Merrow means 'fat', literally, "probably referring to the high fertility of the land".
Merrow is separated from Burpham
(to the north-west) by the New Guildford Line, the railway line between Guildford
and Effingham Junction
.
, the road between Guildford and Leatherhead
, crossed the original road (Merrow Street) from Burpham to Dorking
.
The oldest houses in the village can still be seen along these two roads, together with St John's Church and the Horse and Groom, a 17th century coaching inn
next door. The old Dorking road squeezes between the church and the inn, creating a significant bottleneck for modern motor traffic.
To the north is Clandon Park
, once the home of the Onslow family, and now a National Trust
property. The Onslows provided some of the earliest Speaker
s of the House of Commons, such as Arthur Onslow
who held this post through the reign of George II
.
Merrow remained a relatively small settlement right up to the 1950s, when the Bushy Hill estate was built. This development of several hundred houses was originally all council-owned, but since the 1980s, many have passed into private ownership.
Further expansion occurred in the mid-1980s. In the green-field site bordered by Burpham, the Bushy Hill estate and Clandon Park, the Merrow Park development was built, completely surrounding the old houses on Merrow Street. Comprising several hundred houses and flats, Merrow Park is often considered a suburb in its own right and has its own shops, school and doctor's surgery.
arch and a 13th century chapel.
The churchyard is the burial place of the Onslow family.
There is a war memorial
in the churchyard, dedicated to those who lost their lives in the First
and Second World Wars
. This was re-dedicated in 2002 following a restoration and research project part-funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund
grant.
The church hall (The St. John's Centre) is a focal point for the community and was reopened in 2001 following a major refurbishing and enlargement project.
St Peter's School also has a sixth form
college.
, the oldest Golf Course in Surrey, is located on the Downs. A short walk from Merrow is Newlands Corner, a popular beauty spot in the Surrey Hills
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
.
Merrow has a non-league football club (Merrow F.C.), a tennis club and a cricket club, as well as a fitness club (which was formerly known as "Dragons").
Merrow Dramatic Society is claimed to be the oldest amateur dramatic group in Guildford, having been in existence for over 80 years. Each year, the Society produces two plays, performed at the Electric Theatre in Guildford, and a traditional pantomime, put on at Merrow Village Hall (built 1909). They also take part in Drama Festivals (winning recently at both Guildford and Woking) and host their own variety evenings.
club, Merrow F.C., nicknamed "The Robins", was established in 1922. Their home ground is The Urnfield, Downside Road, in Merrow (51°14′14.72"N 0°32′11.69"W). The club was among the founding members of the Surrey Premier League in 1982.
At the end of the 2007–08 season the club resigned from Division 1 of the Combined Counties League
and joined the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)
, playing in the Premier Division. In the 2009–10 season the club finished in 8th position.
Their average home attendance is 8, which leaves them ranked 737th in England.
Merrow is on several bus routes that start or finish in Guildford.
A park and ride
facility was built to the east of the village, construction starting in Autumn 2006, which opened on 29 September 2008. This service, operated by Safeguard Coaches
on behalf of Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council, was introduced to reduce the traffic levels between Merrow and the town centre.
There have been several proposals to build a railway station on the Guildford to Effingham Junction line, the most probable site being the Surrey County Council depot near Burpham. As yet the funding has not been forthcoming to develop this further, although a feasibility study was carried out.
by Rudyard Kipling
: "How the First Letter was Written" and "How the Alphabet was Made".
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, lies on the north-east corner of Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. It is about two miles from the town centre, right on the edge of the ridge of hills that forms the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
. Although now a relatively anonymous suburb, the village can trace its origins back many hundreds of years. According to the Institute for Name-Studies, Merrow means 'fat', literally, "probably referring to the high fertility of the land".
Merrow is separated from Burpham
Burpham, Surrey
Burpham is a suburb of Guildford, a town in Surrey, England. It includes George Abbot School, a parade of small shops, and the nationally recognised Sutherland Memorial Park...
(to the north-west) by the New Guildford Line, the railway line between Guildford
Guildford (Surrey) railway station
Guildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo....
and Effingham Junction
Effingham Junction railway station
Effingham Junction railway station is situated near the villages of Effingham and East Horsley in Surrey, England. Although the station takes its name from the former town, and the immediate vicinity has itself become known as Effingham Junction, it is actually located in the latter...
.
History
The village grew up around a crossroads: where what is now the A25A25 road
The A25 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A26 from Newhaven to Maidstone and the A27 along the south coast. It carries traffic from Guildford in Surrey through Dorking, and thence eastward along the southern edge of the...
, the road between Guildford and Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
, crossed the original road (Merrow Street) from Burpham to Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
.
The oldest houses in the village can still be seen along these two roads, together with St John's Church and the Horse and Groom, a 17th century coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
next door. The old Dorking road squeezes between the church and the inn, creating a significant bottleneck for modern motor traffic.
To the north is Clandon Park
Clandon Park
Clandon Park is an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Clandon just outside Guildford, Surrey, in the United Kingdom. It has been a National Trust property since 1956....
, once the home of the Onslow family, and now a National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property. The Onslows provided some of the earliest Speaker
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
s of the House of Commons, such as Arthur Onslow
Arthur Onslow
Arthur Onslow was an English politician. He set a record for length of service when repeatedly elected to serve as Speaker of the House of Commons, where he was known for his integrity.-Early life and education:...
who held this post through the reign of George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
.
Merrow remained a relatively small settlement right up to the 1950s, when the Bushy Hill estate was built. This development of several hundred houses was originally all council-owned, but since the 1980s, many have passed into private ownership.
Further expansion occurred in the mid-1980s. In the green-field site bordered by Burpham, the Bushy Hill estate and Clandon Park, the Merrow Park development was built, completely surrounding the old houses on Merrow Street. Comprising several hundred houses and flats, Merrow Park is often considered a suburb in its own right and has its own shops, school and doctor's surgery.
St John's Church
The parish church of St John the Evangelist was built in the mid 12th century and a few early features have survived later additions, such as a NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
arch and a 13th century chapel.
The churchyard is the burial place of the Onslow family.
There is a war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
in the churchyard, dedicated to those who lost their lives in the First
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and Second World Wars
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This was re-dedicated in 2002 following a restoration and research project part-funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
grant.
The church hall (The St. John's Centre) is a focal point for the community and was reopened in 2001 following a major refurbishing and enlargement project.
Schools
- Merrow C of E Infant School (ages 4 – 7)
- Bushy Hill Junior School (ages 7 – 11)
- Boxgrove Primary School (ages 4 – 11)
- St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School (ages 4 – 11)
- St Peter's Catholic Comprehensive SchoolSt. Peter's School, GuildfordSt. Peter's Catholic School in Guildford, Surrey caters for 1,036 students from the ages of 11 to 18. this includes a 6th form college. The school for many years has been a technology college. It is one of the few Catholic Comprehensive Schools in the Surrey area.-History:St Peter’s and Merrow...
(ages 11 – 18)
St Peter's School also has a sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
college.
Churches
- St. John the Evangelist parish church, Anglican (Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
) - Merrow Methodist Church
- St. Pius X Roman Catholic church
Sport and leisure
Merrow is situated right on the edge of the North Downs. Guildford Golf ClubGuildford Golf Club
Guildford Golf Club is a private members golf club located in Merrow, Guildford, England. Founded in 1886, it is the oldest golf club in the county of Surrey- History :...
, the oldest Golf Course in Surrey, is located on the Downs. A short walk from Merrow is Newlands Corner, a popular beauty spot in the Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills AONB
The Surrey Hills is a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , located in Surrey, England. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
.
Merrow has a non-league football club (Merrow F.C.), a tennis club and a cricket club, as well as a fitness club (which was formerly known as "Dragons").
Merrow Dramatic Society is claimed to be the oldest amateur dramatic group in Guildford, having been in existence for over 80 years. Each year, the Society produces two plays, performed at the Electric Theatre in Guildford, and a traditional pantomime, put on at Merrow Village Hall (built 1909). They also take part in Drama Festivals (winning recently at both Guildford and Woking) and host their own variety evenings.
Merrow F.C.
The non-League footballNon-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
club, Merrow F.C., nicknamed "The Robins", was established in 1922. Their home ground is The Urnfield, Downside Road, in Merrow (51°14′14.72"N 0°32′11.69"W). The club was among the founding members of the Surrey Premier League in 1982.
At the end of the 2007–08 season the club resigned from Division 1 of the Combined Counties League
Combined Counties Football League
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey...
and joined the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)
Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)
The Surrey County Intermediate League is one of the three intermediate football leagues based in the English county of Surrey - the others being the Surrey South Eastern Combination and the Surrey Elite Intermediate League. The league can trace its roots back to 1891 when the East and West Surrey...
, playing in the Premier Division. In the 2009–10 season the club finished in 8th position.
Their average home attendance is 8, which leaves them ranked 737th in England.
Transport
A park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
facility was built to the east of the village, construction starting in Autumn 2006, which opened on 29 September 2008. This service, operated by Safeguard Coaches
Safeguard Coaches
Safeguard Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in the Surrey town of Guildford, England.Established in 1924, Safeguard currently provide a number of bus services around Guildford, some of which are jointly operated with Arriva Guildford and West Surrey, and coach private hire services over a...
on behalf of Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council, was introduced to reduce the traffic levels between Merrow and the town centre.
There have been several proposals to build a railway station on the Guildford to Effingham Junction line, the most probable site being the Surrey County Council depot near Burpham. As yet the funding has not been forthcoming to develop this further, although a feasibility study was carried out.
Literature
Merrow Downs in prehistory is the setting for two of the Just So StoriesJust So Stories
The Just So Stories for Little Children were written by British author Rudyard Kipling. They are highly fantasised origin stories and are among Kipling's best known works.-Description:...
by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
: "How the First Letter was Written" and "How the Alphabet was Made".
History
- Merrow Village History
- History of Merrow, from Census records and 'travellers' tales'
- War memorial restoration project
- Record of stained glass windows in St. John's Church
Churches
- St. John the Evangelist parish church
- Merrow Methodist Church
- St. Pius X, Roman Catholic church
Community
- Merrow Residents Association - includes news concerning developments in the Merrow area
- 1st Merrow Scout Group
- Merrow C of E Infant School
- Merrow Dramatic Society