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Merton in Surrey County England History and GeographyMERTON, a parish in the western division of the hundred of BRIXTON, county of SURREY, 9 miles (S.W. by S.) from London, containing 1177 inhabitants. The name of this place in Domesday-book is Mereton and Meretune, a Saxon compound of mere, a lake, or marsh, and tun, a town, or vill, being exactly descriptive of its situation. According to some writers, this place was the scene of the murder of Cynewulf, King of Wessex, in 784, and of a battle between the Danes and the Saxons, in 871, but there exists some doubt as to its identity with the Merton referred to by ancient historians. In 1117, a convent of canons regular of the order of St. Augustine was founded here by Gilbert Norman, sheriff of Surrey; and Henry I., in 1121, granted to this community the manor of Merton, towards the erection of a church in honour of the Virgin Mary: the priory was liberally endowed by subsequent benefactions, and, at the dissolution, the revenue was valued at £1039. 5. 3. In the reign of Henry III., Walter de Merton, Lord High Chancellor of England, and afterwards Bishop of Rochester, founded here a seminary of learning, which he afterwards removed to Oxford, on the foundation of Merton College. A parliament was held at the priory, in 1236, in which those statutes were enacted which take their name from this place: on that occasion the prelates attempted to introduce the imperial and canon law, but were met by that memorable reply of the barons, 'Nolumus Leges Angli' mutari.' Here was concluded the peace between Henry III. and the Dauphin of France, through the mediation of Gualo, the pope's legate; and here also Hubert de Bourg, Chief Justice of England, found a temporary asylum from the displeasure of the same monarch. During the civil war in the reign of Charles I., a considerable part of the conventual buildings was standing: and it appears that a garrison had been established here; for, in July 1648, orders were issued by the government for putting the place in such a condition, that no use might be made of it endangering the peace of the kingdom. In 1680, Merton priory was advertised to be let, when it was described as containing several large rooms and a very fine chapel. The only vestiges now remaining are the east window of the chapel, apparently built in the fifteenth century, and the outer walls, constructed of flint and rubble, which are nearly entire, and enclose a space of about sixty acres. The village, which is situated on the small river Wandle, consists chiefly of one street, which is paved and lighted: the houses are modern, and the inhabitants are supplied with water from several springs and from the river, over which a bridge was built, in 1633, uniting this parish with those of Wimbledon and Mitcham. Manufactories for calico-printing have been established on the site of the priory, and formerly more than one thousand persons were employed in them, but at present there are not more than three hundred; at the northeast corner of the premises is a copper-mill. Hats are also manufactured here, and there is a silk-throwing establishment. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Surrey, and diocese of Winchester, endowed with £600 private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and £1200 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of E. H. Bond, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is in the Norman style of architecture, with later insertions; it was erected by the founder of the abbey, in the twelfth century: the arms of England and those of the priory, painted on glass, decorate the chancel window. There is a place of worship for Independents. An almshouse for six poor women was founded, in 1656, by Rowland Wilson, merchant of London, and endowed with £24 per annum, but it has become private property, and the endowment is lost. In 1687, William Rutlish bequeathed an estate, directing the proceeds to be applied in apprenticing poor children of either sex; the present income of this charity is about £96 per annum. Merton place, having been attached to the rectorial estate for more than two centuries, was separated from it some years ago, and became the residence and property of Admiral Lord Nelson. Thomas ? Becket was educated here under the first prior; and Walter de Merton a native of this place, also and received his education in the priory. Merton confers the title of viscount on the family of Nelson. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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