Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for MELLS

MELLS, a village and a parish in Frome district, Somerset. The village stands in a valley 3½ miles WNW of Frome r. station; is a large place; and has a postoffice under Frome, and fairs on the second Monday after Whit-Monday and on 29 Sept. The parish contains also the hamlet of Vobster. Acres, 3,611. Real property, £7,184; of which "960 are in mines, and £120 in iron-works. Pop. in 1851,1,186; in 1861,972. Houses, 222. The decrease of pop. was caused by a regulation which does not allow more than one family to occupy a cottage. The property is divided among a few. The manor, Mells Park, and much of the land belong to the Rev. J. S. H. Horner. The rocks include coal, pipe-clay, fuller's-earth, lead ore, and manganese. Coal is worked; brick-making and lime-burning are carried on; and the manufacture of agricultural edge tools, long famous for their superior quality, is conducted in two factories. There are remains of several ancient camps. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Bath and Wells. Value, £630.* Patron, the Rev. J. S. H. Horner. The church is later English; consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with pinnacled tower; and has very fine painted w indows. The vicarage of Vobster, with Leigh-upon-Mendip, is a separate benefice. There are a Wesleyan chapel, a Church school, and parish lands £75.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a village and a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "populated places")
Administrative units: Mells CP/AP       Frome RegD/PLU       Somerset AncC
Place: Mells

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