Meldreth
| Meldreth | |
| Cambridgeshire | |
|---|---|
 Holy Trinity church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL375466 |
| Location: | 52°6’0"N, -0°0’0"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,641 (2001) |
| Post town: | Royston |
| Postcode: | SG8 |
| Dialling code: | 01763 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Cambridgeshire |
Meldreth is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the south of the county, 10 miles southwest of Cambridge, and close to the Hertfordshire border. In 2001 it had about 1,600 inhabitants.
The village is named Melrede in the Domesday Book of 1086, apparently from the Old English Myllen riþ, which means "mill stream", after the stream that rises at Melbourn Bury and flows north into the River Cam.[1][2]
Village life
The village was once famous for its fruit production, but is now largely a commuter village for the many commuters who work in Cambridge and London. Orchards still exist in Meldreth, and locally-grown fruits and vegetables are sold in the village, most notably the Meldreth greengage.
The village retains its own railway station, which opened in 1851. In 2001, local celebrations marked the 150th anniversary of Meldreth railway station, which serves the residents of Meldreth and the neighbouring village of Melbourn. Trains from the station run to Cambridge and London King's Cross.
Only one public house is still open; The British Queen has been open since the first half of the 19th century. The first recorded pub in the village was The Bell (also known as The Old Bell or The Blue Bell Inn) which was housed in a thatched building that was built in 1676 and first recorded as a public house in 1726. The Bell closed in 1910. The Railway Tavern opened in 1858 and closed in 1959. It now houses the Tavern Art Gallery. The Dumb Flea pub in Chiswick End closed in 1956 and is now a private house.[3] Other former pubs include The Chequer, recorded in 1785 but believed to have closed soon after, and The Green Man which stood next to the brewery at North End and was open from 1808 till the late 19th century.[2][4]
Meldreth is home to Meldreth Manor School, run by the charity Scope, as well as home to Meldreth Primary School.
Church
The parish church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, as it has been since 1443.
It consists of a chancel, aisled nave with south porch, and a west tower housing eight bells. More peals have been rung at Holy Trinity than any other church.[5] The chancel is unusually long and dates from the 12th century, perhaps indicating the existence of an earlier minster on the site. The tower dates from the late 12th century, with the top stage added in the late 13th century.[2]
History
The village of Meldreth grew in Anglo-Saxon times, and within the parish is Mettle Hill (formerly known as Motlowehyll) that was probably the original meeting place of Armingford Hundred of Cambridgeshire.
Due to its proximity to Cambridge, much of the land has at some time been owned by colleges of the University of Cambridge. In the early 16th century, Christ's College moved to its Meldreth estate to escape the plague.[2]
The Domesday Book compiled in 1086 has this listing for the village:
Melrede: Abbot of Ely and Hardwin and Guy de Raimbeaucourt from him; Abbot of St. Evroul from Earl Roger; Colswein from Count Alan; Hardwin of Scales and Hugh from him; Guy de Raimbeaucourt. 7½ mills, monastery.
In 1952, the Royal Train carrying King George VI's body passed through the station on its journey from Sandringham to London and residents gathered on the platform to pay their last respects to the King.
The village still has a stocks and whipping post, though these are not used today for their appropriate function: the last time a malefactor was punished here was n 1860.[4]
Greenwich Meridian
The Greenwich Meridian runs through the village. A stone marker was erected near the western end of Fenny Lane, and unveiled in December 1999 by the Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Meldreth) |
- Meldreth Parish Council
- Meldreth information
- Meldreth Community Archive
- Meldreth Matters, the monthly village magazine