The South Somerset village of Merriott and its Church of All Saints.

Merriott is a village and civil parish in South Somerset 7 miles west of Yeovil and a similar distance east of Ilminster. 

In the nineteenth and earlier centuries, due to the nearby River Parrett and its associated watermills, Merriott was prominent in the flax, canvas and sailmaking trade - all vital products in the age of sail.  Paul Newman in his Somerset Villages (Robert Hale, 1969), informs us that: “. . . the bellying sheets of HMS VICTORY were produced by local craftsmen.” 

In more modern times many residents have earned their living at Westland Helicopters in Yeovil.  The firm has changed hands many times in recent years and is now owned by Leonardo - an Italian multinational company.

On a less serious note, writing of village folklore, Paul Newman tells us: “Curiously enough the place was known as “Little Ireland” on account of an entirely baseless tradition of colonization by the Irish in the distant past and a predominance of dark hair coupled with a distinctive dialect.”

Earlier this month, on a beautiful day of sunshine and blue sky, I decided to drive over to Merriott with my camera and take some photos of the church.  I also intended to visit the four Commonwealth War Graves in the churchyard.

Edward Sutton in his Highways and Byways in Somerset (Macmillan and Co., 1912), writes of Merriott’s Church of All Saints: “. . . the church is a curious and interesting building of many ages.  The chief attractions are perhaps the old gargoyles all around the building, the pretty niche over the doorway, the curious relief over the vestry door, called the “Fighting Cocks”, and a very crude and ancient crucifix.”

It was easy to park outside the church near the lych-gate which gave entrance into what seemed a very large churchyard for a village.  I took some pleasing photographs of the church and its gargoyles.

The Church of All Saints in the South Somerset village of Merriott.

Gargoyles and battlements above the south porch of the Church of All Saints in Merriott, South Somerset.

The tower and south porch of the Church of All Saints in Merriott, South Somerset.

All Saints stands on rising ground and from the highest point in the graveyard, looking north-east, the Ham Hill war memorial can be seen on the skyline about 4 miles away. The memorial is just about visible in the photo below.

The view north-east from the churchyard of the Church of All Saints in the village of Merriott, South Somerset.  Ham Hill is on the skyline to the right of the picture.

Unfortunately, although the churchyard was extremely well maintained, I could find only one of the four war graves; that of Private H. Lawrence of the 6^th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, who died on 22^nd January 1918.  I intend to return one day to search for the others.       

The war memorial at the Church of All Saints, Merriott, South Somerset.  It commemorates 33 men who died in World War One and 10 who died in World War Two.