Over the years that our natural dyeing and natural inks and paints workshops in Mere have been running, some people have come a long way to attend, so for those that want to make a weekend of it, we thought it would be good to tell you a bit about our small town and some of the best things to see and do in the area.
Mere is situated just off the A303, in the beautiful Blackmore Vale, where the borders of Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset meet.
The rich history of this Wiltshire town dates back to prehistoric times, with evidence of occupation from the Bronze Age. The town’s name, ‘Mere’ is thought to come from the old English word meaning lake or pond, and Mere’s landscape is shaped by the Shreen Water and other waterways that meander through the low-lying land.
Flax was once grown in the area and the town had several mills, including a silk mill. A cottage weaving and dyeing industry, developed over centuries, contributed to the prosperity of the town and evidence of these can still be seen in the names of streets and buildings. So it seems that running natural dyeing courses in Mere is a fitting reflection of its past.
The proximity of the South West Wiltshire Downs supported sheep farming and a thriving wool trade, and in the 13th century Mere was granted a Market Charter enabling it to develop into a significant trading town in the area, with an annual fair. Rural communities were numbered in the hundreds in those days, but from a population of about one thousand at the time of the first census in 1801, Mere is now home to over three thousand souls.
An impressive 19th century clock tower and a war memorial mark the centre of the town, and close by is the medieval church of St. Michael The Archangel, one of the finest parish churches in Wiltshire. Its 15th century pinnacled tower can be seen for miles around. Mere Museum, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the town’s history, is a rich source of documents and artefacts, and for a spectacular view over Mere and the Blackmore Vale you can climb Castle Mound, once the site of a 14th century fortified manor.
PLACES TO VISIT
Mere is just three miles from the National Trust’s Strourhead Gardens and eight miles from the ancient Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury, home of Gold Hill (made famous by the ‘Hovis’ advertisement). Salisbury, with its beautiful cathedral, and Stonehenge are just half an hour to the east, and Longleat Safari Park twenty minutes north.
PLACES TO STAY
There is a wealth of accommodation available in the area, from city centre to rural retreat, and there are several options within Mere itself:
Castleton House B&B, Castle Street, BA12 6JE Tel: 01747 860446
The Dog House, Mill Lane, BA12 6DB Tel: 07491 252025
The George Inn, The Square, BA12 6DR Tel: 01747 861 978
The Walnut Tree Inn, Shaftesbury Road, BA12 6BH Tel: 01747 861 220
COME AND SEE US!