Mersley is a farming hamlet on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...

. Mersley is in Newchurch Parish, and is adjacent to the village of Newchurch itself. Mersley is home to a large garlic farm which is part of the

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival is a fundraising event that is held annually on the Isle of Wight to support the island's garlic industry, as well as fundraising for other agricultural farms on the island. History The Garlic Festival has been h ...

in nearby Newchurch, held annually since 1983 and now drawing 25,000 visitors a year. This garlic farm has also been investigated for inappropriate pesticide use in the past. Potter Molly Attrill worked out of a converted barn in Mersley from 1982 to 2014. Mersley is the subject of archaeological interest because of findings of Roman pottery in the area. Earthenware and crockery were discovered at the Garlic Farm in the 1970s and 80s. Ridges on nearby Mersley Down might be terraces, suggesting the previous presence of a Roman vineyard. There is evidence of a possible earthwork enclosure on a farm in Mersley. There is a chalk pit on Mersley Down.''DUXMORE CHALK PIT, MERSLEY DOWN, NEWPORT''
Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan, Appendix E.

References

Hamlets on the Isle of Wight {{IsleofWight-geo-stub