Like us on Facebook

MENU
Europe
England
Bedfordshire
Ampthill
Arlesey
Aspley Guise
Barton-le-Clay
Bedford
Beeston
Biggleswade
Billington
Bletsoe
Blunham
Bolnhurst
Box End
Bromham
Broom
Caddington
Cardington
Carlton
Chalton
Chawston
Chicksands
Clapham
Clifton
Cople
Cranfield
Dunstable
Elstow
Eversholt
Eyeworth
Felmersham
Flitton
Flitwick
Great Barford
Harlington
Harrold
Haynes
Heath and Reach
Henlow
Hockliffe
Houghton Conquest
Houghton Regis
Husborne Crawley
Ickwell
Kempston
Kensworth
Keysoe
Langford
Leighton Buzzard
Lidlington
Linslade
Little Staughton
Luton
Marston Moreteyne
Maulden
Meppershall
Millbrook
Milton Bryan
Milton Ernest
Moggerhanger
Northill
Oakley
Odell
Old Warden
Pavenham
Pegsdon
Pertenhall
Podington
Potton
Pulloxhill
Radwell
Ravensden
Renhold
Ridgmont
Riseley
Roxton
Sandy
Sewell
Sharnbrook
Shefford
Shillington
Souldrop
Stagsden
Stanbridge
Steppingley
Stevington
Stewartby
Stotfold
Streatley
Studham
Swineshead
Tempsford
Thurleigh
Tilsworth
Tingrith
Toddington
Totternhoe
Turvey
Westoning
Whipsnade
Wilden
Wilstead
Wixams
Woburn
Wootton
Wrestlingworth
Wyboston
Wymington
Yielden
Things to do in Meppershall
Things to do in Bedfordshire


PLACE NAMES




Meppershall


Meppershall is a hilltop village in Bedfordshire near Shefford, Campton, Shillington, Stondon and surrounded by farmland. The village and the manor house are mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 - with the entry reading: Malpertesselle/Maperteshale: Gilbert FitzSolomon.

The Manor House belonged to the De Meppershall family for nearly 300 years following 1086; however, the present house is early 17th century.

Until 1844 Meppershall was partially in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The detached portion of Hertfordshire was transferred to Bedfordshire in 1844, following the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844.

St. Mary's church dates back to the Normans. The Parish Records of St Mary, Meppershall, have been published on CD by the Parochial Church Council.

Before the advent of greenhouses, Meppershall was a very poor community with large families living in two up, two down type thatched cottages built of brick with stone floors. However so many greenhouses were built in the village that it was known as "glass city" growing salad crops for local markets and shipped further afield via the railway.

As well as farming the village earned its income from coprolite digging. Coprolite is the fossilised dung of pre-historic creatures, which when ground and treated with sulphuric acid produces a superphosphate fertiliser. To extract it a long trench was dug on one side of a field. The overlaying clay was then dug out until the nodule bed was reached. If the depth of clay to be removed was more than eight to nine feet, the trench was made in two or three steps and as the nodules were taken out, so the trench was re-filled with the earth already removed. The nodule bed was shovelled into barrows and taken to the washing mill. This consisted of a circular iron trough with a pivot in the centre to which a set of travelling rakes was attached, these being dragged round by horses and a constant stream of water was kept running through the trough until the clay washed off. The dirty water then was drained off and the nodules carted away. The coprolite was worth about £3 a ton in 1890, yielding some 300 tons per acre. A good fossil digger could earn as much as £2 a week. This industry has also died out.



leonedgaroldbury@yahoo.co.ukFeel free to Email me any additions or corrections


LINKS AVAILABLE TO YOUR SITE


Leon Edgar Books