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Merriman
Merriman Park, Merriman Gardens, Merriman Road.
Who was Merriman?
(See also Merriman
James Merriman was curate to the Reverend Lord John Thynne, Rector of Street and Walton. He contributed to the restoration of Street Parish Church and gave generously to charity. He was a hard-working curate who had an adventurous nature and a vocation for missionary work. In 1848, he was invited to go to South Africa as Archdeacon of Grahamstown which he accepted. He became Bishop of Grahamstown and was killed in a carriage accident in 1884. James' son, the Hon. John X. Merriman (1841-1926) was born in the house in the High Street (later part of Clarks factory) bought by Lord John Thynne for the use of the curate. He had a gift for mathematics and surveying but was a diamond dealer and wine merchant before entering the Parliament of Cape Colony, where he gained a reputation for wrecking governments. Eventually, from 1908-1910, he became Prime Minister and narrowly missed becoming Premier of the Union of South Africa. According to McGarvie, John X. Merriman had an innate sense of British Liberty and was tolerant, honourable and freedom-loving, qualities imbibed, perhaps, during his Street childhood".
Clearly, the Park and surrounding area have been named after the Merriman family just as many other roads in our village have been given the names of local notable people e.g. Pippard Close, Petvin Close, Housman Road, Seymour Road, Eglington Road, Mary Hart Close etc..
According to the records of Street Urban District Council, in 1911/12 Merriman Road consisted of one "large" house, five "parlour homes" and fifteen "small" homes. It was the first municipal housing scheme in Somerset and one of the earliest in the country.
In 1920/21, there were 20 "parlour" type houses in Merriman Gardens, built by Street Urban District Council as part of the last Council Scheme to be built in local Lias stone (although bricks were used around windows and doors). The architect was S. Thompson Clothier and the builders were Alien & Sons and R.W. Godfrey.
Today, the area is heavily congested with cars being parked on both sides of the road. Many of the current home-owners have started to knock down the stone walls surrounding their property in order to provide car-parking space adjacent to their houses. This is, indeed, regrettable but Merriman is not a Conservation Area so little can be done about it. Nevertheless, the subject does appear on our Committee agenda with discussions and enquiries ensuing.
The information, given in this article on James and John Merriman, has been taken from The Book of Street by Michael McGarvie and it is that same Michael McGarvie who will be Guest Speaker at our next AGM to be held on Tuesday 6th. September. So please, reserve this date now and come armed with your questions about Street. Meanwhile, if any members have any memories or experiences connected with the Merriman area (especially the Park?!?) that they would like to share with us, we will be delighted to receive them before the publication of our next Newsletter in July.
Mary Oliver
(01458446261)
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