Merley is a large housing estate in the unparished area of Poole, a mile (2 km) south of

Wimborne Minster Wimborne Minster (often referred to as Wimborne, ) is a market town in Dorset in South West England, and the name of the Church of England church in that town. It lies at the confluence of the River Stour and the River Allen, north of Poo ...

. Originally called Myrle, Merley was a manor in the tithing of Great Canford (or

Canford Magna Canford Magna is a village in Dorset, England. The village is situated just south of the River Stour and lies between the towns of Wimborne Minster Wimborne Minster (often referred to as Wimborne, ) is a market town in Dorset in South Wes ...

). The village merges with that of Oakley, and the housing estate was originally going to be called "Oakley Garden Village", note Oakley Shops and other signposts around the community but the name was changed. The housing estate only covers part of the area that was originally called Merley/Myrle. The Poole ward is Merley and Bearwood. The population of this ward taken at the 2011 census was 10,392.

Statistics

Merley is part of the greater ward called "Merley and Bearwood" and here are some statistics on this area:

People

* 10,392 people live in Merley and Bearwood. * There are about 4078 dwellings in the ward * There are 2228 people over the age of 60 living in this ward * 52.54% of people over the age of 16 are currently married.

Housing

* 88.99% of residents either own their homes outright or with a mortgage. * 5.27% of residents live in council or housing association homes. * 4.27% of residents live in privately rented homes.

Environment

* The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

of Merley and Bearwood is approximately 1673 people per square mile (646/km²). * The actual size of the

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

is 6.4 square miles (17 km²).

Employment

* The biggest industry in this area (with 16.62% of people) are the wholesale and retail trade

motor mechanic An auto mechanic (automotive technician in most of North America, light vehicle technician in British English, and motor mechanic in Australian English) is a mechanic who services and repairs automobiles, sometimes specializing in one or more ...

industries. * The biggest male industry in this area (with 21.86% of males) is the manufacturing industry. * The biggest females industry in this area (with 21.84% of females) is the health and social work industry. Source: First release of the 2001

Census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

data, released in September 2002.

History

The 1970s housing estate surrounding Sopwith Crescent was built over a period of several years from the Oakley Straight end on former farmland. It was originally called Oakley Garden Village by the developers, but soon became incorporated into the adjacent older village.

Education and schools

Merley First School serves Merley and Oakley and is one of the founding members of the Wimborne Academy Trust. The private

Canford School Canford School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 13–18). Situated in 300 acres of parkland near to the market town of Wimborne Minster in Dorset, south west England, it is one of the largest s ...

is also located nearby at Canford Magna.

Sport and leisure

Merley has a Non-League football club

Merley Cobham Sports F.C. Merley Cobham Sports Football Club is a association football, football club based in Merley, in Poole, Dorset, England. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and is a FA chartered Standard club. They play their home ga ...

who play at Cobham Sports and Social Club.

Politics

Merley is part of the Bearwood and Merley ward, which elects 3 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

References

External links

* {{authority control Villages in Dorset Areas of Poole