Meaux, East Riding of Yorkshire
Meaux (pronounced /mjus/ "mewss"[1]) is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is about 6 1⁄2 miles (10 km) north of Hull city centre and 3 1⁄2 miles (6 km) east of Beverley.
| Meaux | |
|---|---|
 Site of Meaux Abbey | |
  Meaux Location within the East Riding of Yorkshire | |
| OS grid reference | TA097395 |
| • London | 160 mi (260 km) S |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEVERLEY |
| Postcode district | HU17 |
| Dialling code | 01482 |
| Police | Humberside |
| Fire | Humberside |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
Meaux is part of the civil parish of Wawne.
Meaux Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey near Meaux.
According to A Dictionary of British Place Names the name 'Meaux' is derived from Old Norse Mel-sǽr, meaning "Sandbank-pool".[2]
Baines' History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York states that William the Conqueror gave the Meaux lordship to Gamel, who was born in Normandy at Meaux, a name he gave to the Holderness settlement which he populated with his own people. However, the Domesday Book records that in 1066 Ulf Fenman held the lordship, this transferring in 1086 to Drogo of la Beuvrière, who was also Tenant-in-chief to William I. Meaux is recorded in the Domesday Book as "Melse". At the time of the survey the settlement was in the Middle Hundred of Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Meaux contained 29 villagers, 5 smallholders, 6 freemen, and 4 men-at-arms. There were 53 ploughlands, woodland, and 274 acres (111 hectares) of meadow.[3][4]
In 1823 Meaux was in the parish of Waghen (alternatively 'Wawn'), in the Wapentake and Liberty of Holderness. Baines states that the Cistercian Meaux Abbey was established in 1136, and that only remains of a brick mosaic pavement had been found within "extensive" moats or ditches. Meaux population at the time was 74, with occupations including five farmers & yeomen.[4]
Mewes (also Mewis) is a fairly common family name in the North-East, and believed to be used by descendants of those who came to Yorkshire as soldiers commanded by Gamel.
References
- Miller, G.M. (1971). BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names. Oxford University Press.
- Mills, Anthony David (2003); A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, revised edition (2011), p. 322. ISBN 019960908X
- Meaux in the Domesday Book
- Baines, Edward (1823): History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York, p. 368, 369
- Gazetteer — A–Z of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 8.
