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Mere in a Nutshell
Millennium Exhibition

Mere in a Nutshell

Geology and Prehistory

The village of Mere is situated on chalk and clay, surrounded by rising hills of chalk and green sandstone. On a spur to the north east of the village lies Whitesheet Hill, site of much prehistoric activity. Occupation here began with the construction of a causewayed enclosure in the early Neolithic period. An Iron Age hillfort is also to be found on this hilltop.

Chalk and flint from Charnage limeworks, Mere Green sandstone from Wolverton, Zeals A flint hand axe (Neolithic, c.2500 B.C.), found in Mere Iron Age fort, Whitesheet Hill
Chalk and flint Green sandstone A flint hand axe Iron Age fort

Medieval Mere

There is much evidence that Mere flourished in Medieval times, from the impressive strip lynchets that demonstrate the agricultural practices of early medieval times to the well constructed 15th century parish church of St. Michael . The hill to the north west of the village was once the site of a castle. In 1887 an excavation revealed the foundations of the castle which covered the entire hilltop. Further information about these places can be found by exploring the interactive map of Mere.

A fragment of an encaustic tile, possibly from Mere castle, 14th century An impression of Mere Castle in the 13th century, by Colin Anderson The 15th-century alabaster tablet depicting the adoration of the magi, Mere Parish Church, found near Castle Hill, Mere  

Encaustic tile

 Mere Castle Alabaster tablet  

Modern Times

Mere owes part of its successful mixture of trades to its location, serving as a coaching stop with inns and supporting businesses. A range of local industries such as wool and flax spinning, as well as market gardening and plant husbandry have flourished. In the latter part of the 19th century, silk was spun at several mills. Dairy farming and brush making also played a significant part in the local economy from the early 20th century.

Silk spun at Hinks Mill, Mere, c.1880 Cheesemakers pictured at a ‘Cheesemaking School’ held at Breaches Farm, Mere, c.1900 A fragment of a flagon from the Talbot Inn (now the George Inn), early 20th century Brass horn and harness bells used on the mail coach running to Templecombe from the Talbot Inn, Mere
Spun silk Cheesemakers, c.1900 Flagon fragment Brass horn
A milk bottle from Lordsmead Dairy, Mere, mid 20th century Butter pats Brush head produced at The Hill Brush Co. Mere Seed catalogue from Burden & Sons’ Nursery, Mere, mid 20th century
Milk bottle Butter pats Brush head Seed catalogue





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