Merston Explained

Country:England
Static Image:St Giles' church, Merston - geograph.org.uk - 1543854.jpg
Static Image Caption:St Giles Church
Coordinates:50.818°N -0.7308°W
Official Name:Merston
Civil Parish:Oving
Shire District:Chichester
Shire County:West Sussex
Region:South East England
Constituency Westminster:Chichester
Post Town:Chichester
Postcode District:PO20
Postcode Area:PO
Os Grid Reference:SU895028

Merston is a small village, an Anglican parish[1] and former civil parish, now in the civil parish of Oving, in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies just south of the A259 road 2.4miles southeast of Chichester.[2]

History

Merston was listed in the Domesday Book (1086) in the ancient hundred of Boxgrove as having 16 households, meadows, plough land, and three mills. The tenant in chief was Earl Roger of Shrewsbury.[3]

In 1861, Merston Anglican parish's population was 79, and the parish was .

In 1931 the parish had a population of 85.[4] On 1 April 1933 the civil parish was abolished and merged with Oving.[5]

Parish church

The 13th century St Giles church is a Grade I listed building, and in 1861 was described as "very ancient". The font is 12th century. The parish is now in the parish of North Mundham with Merston in the Diocese of Chichester, and St Giles is closed for services,[6] The church's original registers are held by West Sussex Record Office in Chichester.[7] but open to visitors.[8]

RAF Merston

Nearby was RAF Merston, a World War II airfield.[9] The airfield was in use from 1939 to 1945.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GENUKI: Merston, Sussex. 16 June 2019.
  2. Ordnance Survey
  3. Web site: Open Domesday: Merston. 16 June 2019.
  4. Web site: Population statistics Merston AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 10 May 2023.
  5. Web site: Relationships and changes Merston AP/CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 10 May 2023.
  6. Web site: Church of England Heritage Record: Merston St Giles. 6 February 2024.
  7. Web site: GENUKI: The Parish Church of St Giles. 6 February 2024.
  8. Web site: Oving parish council: St Giles Church. 2024-03-10.
  9. Web site: Merston . Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. 16 June 2019.
  10. Book: Lee, David. Action Stations Revisited: The Complete History of Britain's Military Airfields. Crécy. 2005. 9780859791106. 3: South East England. Manchester, England. 224–225.