Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/827

MKRKLAND LOCH. 819 MERSEA, WEST. Llanfihangel-y-Pennant are the remains of a castle said !vo belonged to the last Llewellyn, Prince of North Wales, and which was taken from him just before the final conquest of Wales. There is a Roman road through the county, near which are several tumuli or barrows. NVar Saru-Helen are other monuments of antiquity, and not far from Trawsfynnydd is a grave, said to be that of 1'urus, marked by a stone with a Iloman inscription. ilchral urns and Roman coins have been found in various parts of the county. Between Barmouth and Hat-lech is a stone fort and many other remains of British antiquity. There are several seats in the county, including those of Davies of Bronhaulog, Wynne of Peniarth, Thurston of Talgarth, Vaughan of Nannau and llengwrt, Mostyn of Cors-y-Gedol, and numerous others. MERKLAND LOCH, a lake in co. Sutherland, Scot- land, 8 miles N.E. of Assynt. It is situated on the S.E. border of Eddrachillis, and extends 3 miles in length by 1 mile in breadth, above Loch Shin. MERRIDGE, a hmlt. in the par. of Spaxton, co. Somerset, 4 miles W. of Bridgwater. MERRINGTON, a par. ia the S.E. div. of the ward of Darlington, co. Durham, 4 miles E. of Bishop- Auck- land, its post town. The village, which is large, is situated on an eminence near the North of England railway. The par. comprises the tnshps. of Chilton, Ferry Hill, Helt, and Merrington. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The surface is hilly, and in some parts the soil is light and gravelly, resting upon limestone and coal, and in others clay on hard blue whinstone. The vicarial tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 285, and the impropriate tithes be- longing to the Dean and Chapter of Durham for one of 646, besides 74 belonging to other impropriators. The living is a reel.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 211, in the patron, of the dean and chapter. The parish church, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, has a square tower containing two bells. It was rebuilt in 1850. There is a district church at Ferry Hill, the living of which is a perpet. cur.,* val. 276. The parochial charities produce about 19 per annum. There is a National school. MERRINGTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Preston Gubbals, hund. of Albrighton, co. Salop, 5 miles N.W. of Shrewsbury, within the liberties of which borough it is included. It formerly belonged to the Mucklestons. MERRION, a post-office vil. in the par. of Donny- brook, in the bar. and co. of Dublin, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles S.E. of Dublin. It is a station on the Kingstown railway. It is situated on the S. side of Dublin Bay, and is resorted to as a bathing-place in the summer season. Merrion Castle, Merrion Hall, and Elm Park, are the chief seats of this locality. MERRIOTT, a par. in the hund. of Crewkerne, co. Somerset, 2 miles N. of Crewkerne, its post town. The village, which is largo, is chiefly agricultural. There are extensive canvas works adjoining the village, giving employment to a large number of hands. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Bath and Wells, val. 312, in the patron, of the Dean and Chapter of Bristol. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a stone structure with a square tov. IT containing a clock and five bells. The church has recently been thoroughly restored, chiefly at the expense of the rector. The register dates from 1647. The parochial charities produce about 10 10s. per annum, which is distributed to the poor on St. Thomas's Day. There is a National school, endowed with an annuity of '.), for both sexes, in which a Sunday-school is held. There are two Dissenting schools, and places of worship for the Wealeyans, Baptists, and Plymouth Brethren. John Rodbard Rodbard, and Edward Rodbard, Esqs., are lords of the manor. M KKltOW, a par. in the second div. of the hund. of Wi iking, co. Surrey, 2 miles N.E. of Guildford, its post town. The village, which is small, is situated on the from Leatherhead to Guildford, under Morrow- Down, and is wholly agricultural. The land is partly in common and woodland, and contains several planta- tions. The Guildford race-course is situated within this parish. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 250. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Winchester, val. 221. The church, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, has a spired tower. It was rebuilt in 1842 on the old foundation. The E. end of the S. aisle is set apart as a burial-place for the Onslow family. There is a National school. Earl Onslow is lord of the manor and sole landowner. MERRY MAIDENS, a Druid temple, near St. Buryan, co. Cornwall. The circle is 25 feet in diameter, surrounded by 19 stones, each 4 feet high. MERRYN, ST., a par. in the hund. of Pyder, E. div. of co. Cornwall, 2 miles W. by S. of Padstow, and 7 N. by W. of St. Columb Major. The parish, which is situated near Trevose-Head and Catacluse Cliff, is bounded on the W. and N. by the Bristol Channel. The coast is lined by high rugged cliffs, and the surface is strikingly varied, the prevailing rocks being crystal- line and slaty, with veins of lead and antimony. There are quarries of roofing slate, and of a dark-coloured trap rock almost equal to marble. Under the Catacluse Clilf is a small quay, constructed in 1794 for the accommoda- tion of coasting vessels. The appropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 410, and the vica- rial for 250. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 257, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Merryn, is an ancient structure, partly rebuilt of Catacluse stone. It contains an antique font of trap stono, curiously carved with figures of tho Apostles, brougH from the old church of St. Catherine, near Harlyn, of which there are still some ruins. There are places of worship for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. Tho principal seats are Harlyn and Tre- vose, the latter belonging to the Molesworths. The feasts are kept on the Sundays next before 10th March and 7th July. A fair is held on the Monday preceding 2'2nd June. MERRYSTONE, and MERRYSTONE WEST, vils. in the par. of Old Monkland, co. Lanark, Scotland, 7 miles E. of Glasgow. The inhabitants are chiefly em- ployed in the mines. MERSE, an extensive district on the eastern part of the Scottish border, co. Berwick, Scotland. It derives its name from its situation on the march or border, and extends 20 miles in length, with a breadth of 10. Tho chief part of the district lies along the river Tweed, E. of Lauderdale, and another part in the co. of Roxburgh. It is fertile, and in a good state of cultivation. It gives name to tho synod of Merse and Teviotdale, contain- ing the presbs. of Dunse, Chirnside, Kelso, Jedburgh, Lauder, and Selkirk, all of 'which pars, have Freo churches, with the exception of Chirnside and Lauder. MERSEA, EAST, a par. in the hund. of Winstree, co. Essex, 1 1 miles S. of Colchester, its post town. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Mersca, and is bounded by the rivers Colney and Blackwater on tho E. and S., and Pyefleet Channel on the N. The village consists of a few farmhouses and cottages. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 427. Tho surface is in general flat, but fertile and well wooded. The island is joined to the main by Strode Causeway, across Pyefleet Creek. Tho living is a rect.* in tho dioc. of Rochester, val. 400, in the patron, of the crown. The church, dedicated to St. Edmund, has a square em- battled tower of stone containing two bells, which, being situated on high ground at the eastern part of the island, formerly served as a landmark to mariners. The register commences in 1720. The charities consist of a bequest of 200 in tho Three per Cent. Consuls for the education of poor children of the parish to be nominated by tho rector. There is a National school. MERSEA, WEST, a par. in tho hund. of Winstree, cp. Essex, 10 miles S. of Colchester, its post town. It is situated at the mouth of tho river Blackwater, and is a coastguard station. West Mersea comprises the greater portion of the Isle of Mersea, which is about 5 miles in length by 2 in average breadth, and is connected with the mainland on the W. by a causeway called the-