| Melling | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Church of St. Thomas and the Holy Rood, Melling | |
  Melling Location withinMerseyside | |
| Population | 3,493 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD385002 |
| Civil parish |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LIVERPOOL |
| Postcode district | L31 |
| Dialling code | 0151 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
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Melling is a village andcivil parish within theMetropolitan Borough of Sefton, inMerseyside,England. At the2001 Census the population was recorded as 2,810,[1] rising to 3,493 at the 2011 Census.[2]Melling Rock contains apublic house as well asSt Thomas and theHoly Rood. The town of Waddicar, of which most of the population of Melling consists, is usually regarded as part of Melling itself and is served by the parish council which is based in the local Melling Primary School.
Historically a part ofLancashire, its name originates from theAnglo-Saxon roots for "the homestead of Maella" (or Malla). Lying close toLiverpool, the area was settled by Maella's family in the 6th century[citation needed].Melling may also be derived from theBrittonicmę:l meaning "bald, bare".[3] The village was recorded in theDomesday Book of 1086 asMelinge.[4]
A 'headless cross' is located in theparish church. During surveys undertaken as part of the construction of theM57 motorway, a number of anomalies were found which were concluded as being the remains of aStone Age settlement based around Melling Rock. It is also noted that the local Wood House Farm was the location of a very minor battle during theEnglish Civil War which was concluded from a number of cannonballs dating from the era along withMelling House, which is shown to have been seriously damaged as a result of such action, evidence of which can be found at ground level where remains of a now-destroyed defensive wall can be seen.
TheLeeds and Liverpool Canal passes the village, and during the years of theIndustrial Revolution the village flourished through passing trade. Melling is near theAintreeGrand National racecourse, which then crosses Melling Road (which actually runs fromWalton toAintree and does not go to Melling) soon after the start. There is also a MellingSteeplechase at the Grand National meeting. The local Melling Tithebarn Arts Association is based in Melling Tithebarn, which is used as an event venue. The oldtithe barn serves as St Thomas' Church Hall as well as a local community centre.[5] The Melling Residents' and Community Association (MRCA) dates from the 1930s. Originally used by the Lords of the Manor of Melling, the Molyneux, and later a builders' shed, it was given to the people of the village. The village has changed dramatically since the late 1990s with the demolition of the cable factory and the recent construction of a modern housing estate which is located in Waddicar, backing onto the Leeds-Liverpool canal.
The parish church is a grade IIlisted building built in 1834 to replace an earlier chapel, and is dedicated to St Thomas and the Holy Rood. It is a part of the Maghull and Melling Team and theDiocese of Liverpool.[6][7][8]
The catholic church of the Most Holy Redeemer and St Kentigern was built in 1900 and is dedicated to Kentigern, patron saint ofGlasgow, to reflect the origins of many of its original parishioners.[9][10]
There are no railway stations serving Melling, the nearest station isMaghull serving the town ofMaghull by frequent electric services fromOrmskirk toLiverpool, orKirkby, serving the nearby district ofKirkby by services fromHeadbolt Lane toLiverpool.
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