Mepal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mepal |
|
|---|---|
Aug2006.jpg) Mepal's village sign, showing Cornelius Vermuyden's wooden bridge, and sheep being transported by boat |
|
 Mepal
|
|
| Population | 976 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | TL441808 |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ELY |
| Postcode district | CB6 |
| Dialling code | 01353 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Mepal is a small village in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located in the East Cambridgeshire area. You can find it just north of the A142 road, between the towns of Ely and Chatteris. The village was first mentioned in the 12th century as Mepahala. Its name comes from Old English and means 'Nook of land of a man named Mēapa'.
Contents
History of Mepal
Mepal's story is closely linked to The Fens. This area is very flat and low, with Mepal being less than ten metres above sea level. Mepal is one of the smaller villages on the Isle of Ely. It sits where the fenland once met the slightly higher ground of the Isle.
Two important rivers, the Old Bedford River and the New Bedford River, run very close to Mepal. The New Bedford River is also called the Hundred Foot Drain. The main bridges over these rivers are found right here in Mepal. These rivers help drain the Fens and have a large flood plain between them. This area usually floods between November and March each year.
In the 1800s, a big fire damaged much of the village. This caused the number of people living there to drop quite a bit. Because of this fire, not many buildings from before the 19th century are left in Mepal today.
RAF Mepal and Its Role in History
Mepal is proud to have been home to No. 75 Squadron RAF. This Royal Air Force squadron was active here from 1943 to 1945. It was known as No. 75 'New Zealand' Squadron. They flew Lancaster bombers during World War II. This squadron flew more missions than any other in RAF Bomber Command, with a total of 8017 operations. Former members of the squadron and their families visit Mepal every year to remember their service. You can learn more at a museum in nearby Witchford. This museum is dedicated to both RAF Mepal and RAF Witchford.
After the Second World War, RAF Mepal was chosen in 1957 for Thor nuclear missiles. These were powerful missiles, but they were removed by 1963. The airfield was then closed down, and the land was sold.
St Mary's Church
The local church, dedicated to Saint Mary, is a very old building. It dates back to the 13th century and has not changed much since then. It is special because it is the only church on the Isle of Ely without a tall tower or spire. Instead, it has a double bellcote for its bells. The church is listed as a Grade II* listed building, which means it is very important historically.
Records from 1835 show that the church is made of flint and stone. It has a chancel, a nave, a south porch, and a small western turret with one bell. The church was repaired and improved several times in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The inside was re-seated, and a vestry was added. The church register, which records important events, dates back to 1559.
Village Life Today
Mepal has several useful places for people living there. You can find a hotel, restaurant, and bar called The Three Pickerels. There is also a post office and a village shop. The Church of England primary school in Mepal was rated 'Good' by Ofsted in 2023.
The Mepal Village Hall was built in 1873-74. It first opened as Mepal National School. Today, it is used for community events and as a polling place during elections. Mepal shares a local football club with the nearby village of Sutton. There is also a youth club and a Friendship club for residents. Allotments, which are small plots of land for gardening, are available to rent from the Mepal parish council. They are located near the village children's play park.
Mepal has a bus service from Monday to Saturday. Buses run every two hours to Chatteris, Ely, and Cambridge. There is no bus service on Sundays.
Botanical Features
Next to St Mary's church, there is a small wooded area. This area is known for its old elm trees. These trees are thought to be a special type of elm called Plot elm hybrid.
See also
In Spanish: Mepal para niños
