Meppershall, Bedfordshire

Description
Meppershall or Mepshall, a parish, with a village, in Beds, near the Hitchin branch of the M.R., 2 miles W from Henlow station, 2 N of the boundary with Herts, and 2 S by W of Shefford. Post town, Shefford, under Biggleswade; money order and telegraph office, Shefford. Acreage, 1965; population, 650. The manor belongs to the trustees of Mrs Kane and Mrs Woodburn. Remains of an old fortification, called the Hills, are near the church. A ruin, now used as a bam, but once a chapel supposed to have belonged to Chicksands Priory, and retaining a very fine Norman door, is on Chapel Farm. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely; net value, £291 with residence. Patron, St John's College, Cambridge. The church is a small cruciform building of stone, partly of Norman date, with Early English and Perpendicular additions; consists of chancel, transepts, nave, aisles, and a central tower. It contains some very ancient effigies, and it was restored and partly rebuilt in 1875-76.