Meriden, West Midlands

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Meriden
Meriden, West Midlands (West Midlands)
Meriden, West Midlands

Meriden shown within the West Midlands
Population 2,734 (2001)
OS grid reference SP240824
Metropolitan borough Solihull
Metropolitan county West Midlands
Region West Midlands
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
European Parliament West Midlands
List of places: UK • England • West Midlands

Coordinates: 52°26′16″N 1°38′59″W / 52.4379, -1.6496

Church of St. Lawrence
Church of St. Lawrence

Meriden is a village and civil parish in the Solihull borough of the West Midlands in England, United Kingdom.

Contents

[edit] Location

It is located between Solihull and the city of Coventry, approximately 10 km (6 miles) away from Birmingham International Airport.

[edit] History & Amenities

The surrounding countryside, known as the Meriden Gap, forms a green belt between the two urban areas of Birmingham and Coventry.

In the United Kingdom Census 2001 the population of the Meriden parish was 2,734.

It is possibly the site of an Iron Age field system.

The parish church is dedicated to St. Lawrence and was apparently founded by Lady Godiva. It has a Norman architecture chancel with gargoyles on its roof and a golden weathercock.

[edit] Traditional Centre of England

The village claims to be at the very centre of England, and a 500-year-old (some sources say 200-year-old) sandstone pillar-shaped monument to that effect stands in the village green. This medieval village cross is a grade II listed artifact. Recent analysis by the Ordnance Survey has suggested that the true geographical centre of England is a farm situated some 18 kilometres to the northeast,[1] in Leicestershire, though most people still credit Meriden with the honour.

Here the Heart of England Way long distance path wends its way and fittingly brings the Staffordshire Heathlands together with the Cotswolds and Forest of Arden.

The 16th century Moat House
The 16th century Moat House

Meriden is also home to a memorial to all the cyclists who died in the First World War. An annual event, at which thousands of cyclists pay their respects to their fallen colleagues and commemorate these deaths, is held in the village. The memorial was unveiled on 21 May 1921, in the presence of over 20,000 cyclists.

Some moated farmsteads and several timber-framed buildings can be seen in the village.

Meriden used to be home to a large Triumph Motorcycles production plant, which moved from Coventry to avoid Luftwaffe bombing during World War II, but which closed in the early-1980s. The company is now based in nearby Hinckley, Leicestershire.

The village was at one time home to the largest British advertising agency outside of London.

[edit] Trivia

In Meriden, in 1981, metal band Napalm Death was founded.

[edit] References

  1. ^ A tale of two centres

[edit] External links