MERIDEN

The village lies six miles north west of Coventry and the main road from Birmingham used to carry heavy traffic through it, but a by-pass has left it in quiet seclusion. It has claims to be the centre of England if such an irregularly shaped country can have a centre. The old oak (now felled) at Lillington and High Cross on Watling Street have similar traditional claims. The original spelling was Merideon, and Meridon is also found. There is a memorial to cyclists who died in the two World Wars in the centre of the village. The oldest archery society in England, The Woodmen of Arden, meet at Forest Hall. The Norman church has a monument to Sir John Wyard, Mayor of London in 1375. There are a number of old buildings, the half-timbered moat house dates from 1609.

DIOCESE: Lichfield HUNDRED: Hemlingford UNION: Meriden

ADJOINING PARISHES: Great Packington, Fillongley, Allesley, Berkswell, Hampton-in-Arden.

Parish Registers: Christenings: 1646-1907 Marriages: 1647-1980 Burials: 1646-1902 Banns 1823-1960

Bishop's Transcripts : 1673-1844 LIC Begin c1858 WOR

IGI: Christenings: 1755-1885, Marriages: 1754-1895. Widely available; BMSGH(PS)

NONCONFORMIST: Quaker see Source Material

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS: Brass rubbing, Elizabeth Rotton, 1638 WAR
St. Laurence SoG

PROBATE RECORDS: LIC

CENSUS RETURNS: All WAR
1841 51 81 BIR
1881 BCP , BMSGH(PS)

INDEXES
Burial 1813-1837
Marriage 1647-1754 & 1813-1848
Poor Law c1690-1860

MANORIAL RECORDS: 1306-1597 STR

OTHER SOURCES: Plans: Wriothesley Digby's estate 1817.
Plan Somers Farm 1836
Aylesford Estate early 19th century, Alsagers Farm.
Bliss and Marshall, papers 1737-1839.
Leaves from a Beech Tree, Miss G.Beaufoy, (The Beaufoys of Emscote, Warwick and Meriden).
Meriden, WWM Jan 1972.
Meriden: Its People and Houses, Parts 1 & 2, D.Agutter 1992. BMSGH(LL) , SoG
W.I.Scrapbook 1965.
See also private collections Finch-Knightley of Packington.
Gregory of Stivichall STR

[Last updated: 18th March 2013 ]