Merridale

Coordinates: 52°35′03″N 2°09′23″W / 52.58420°N 2.15640°W / 52.58420; -2.15640

Merridale
Merridale  Merridale shown within the West Midlands
Population	3,044 (2001 Census - Merridale / Chapel Ash)
Metropolitan borough	Wolverhampton
Metropolitan county	West Midlands
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Wolverhampton
Postcode district	WV
Dialling code	01902
Police	West Midlands
Fire	West Midlands
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Wolverhampton South West
List of places: UK • England • West Midlands

Merridale is an area of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is situated to the south-west of the city centre, on the border of the city council's Graiseley and Park wards.

Origins and history

The place name, Merridale, can be traced back to its earliest known medieval form, 'Muriden' - likely from Old English 'myrge' (meaning sweet, pleasant, agreeable) 'denu' (valley).^[1]

Parts of the former Merridale Farm (recently restored and converted into apartments) are the oldest buildings in Wolverhampton apart from the Church and Saxon Pillar. Merridale Court, a large estate of flats, was built in the 1950s on the site of a former sand pit.

Within the area are a number of locally listed buildings - including a coach house dating from the 1850s, built in the Tudor Revival style. This property, along with the nearby former Eye Infirmary, is part of The Oaks (Merridale Road) Conservation Area.

Bantock Park and House are within the area, the house is believed to date from the 1730s, and was originally a farm called New Merridale Farm, then named Merridale House.^[2]

The Wolverhampton Grammar School is in the area.

Today

Merridale has changed little since the 1950s when Merridale Court was constructed. There are new (c2000s) apartments / flats near the junction of Merridale Road and Merridale Lane.

Public houses

There are a small amount of pubs in the area. 'The Royal Oak' is on Compton Road and nearby on the corner of Merridale Road and Merridale Gardens is 'The Chindit' - both traditional pubs specialising in ales and lagers. Until the late 2000s, 'The Quarter House' stood on Compton Road - this has now been demolished.

References

1. ^ 'A Survey and Analysis of the Place-Names of Staffordshire' by David Horovitz, LL. B. (2003)
2. ^ http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/leisure_culture/museums/bantock/history.htm A brief history of Bantock House.

External links

• The Oaks (Merridale Road) Conservation Area
• Map sources for Merridale
• 2001 Census - Merridale / Chapel Ash

Coordinates: 52°35′03″N 2°09′23″W / 52.58420°N 2.15640°W / 52.58420; -2.15640