Meriden is a village in the West Midlands near to Solihull.
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| Jolly little orange house in Meriden |
| Information | |
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| County: | West Midlands |
| Metropolitan Borough: | Solihull |
| Population: | 2719 (2011 census) |
Located between Birmingham and Coventry, Meriden was identified as the centre of England in 1829 with a sandstone cross built to mark the exact point. More modern calculations have placed the centre in Leicestershire but Meriden still has it's monument which is supposed to denote the centre (though the monument has been moved anyway!)
The name Meriden is derived from the Old English for pleasant valley (Myrge Denu). Meriden has Saxon origins, being listed in the Domesday Book as Alspath and was the property of Lady Godiva. Alspath was a settlement atop a hill where the parish church is now, with the Meriden settlement at the foot of the hill. Over time the settlement at the foot of the hill overtook Alspath in importance due to the Chester road passing through it.
Meriden became a distribution point for the cattle driving trade in the 16th century. The village growing due to it's location on the Chester road. A number of inns were built to cater for the passing trade. The road bypassed the village in 1810 when Thomas Telford renovated the route.
At the top of the hill is the church of St Laurence. The oldest parts are Norman with additions in the following centuries.
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| Farmhouse in the old village centre atop the hill |
