George Tapps-Gervis-Meyrick facts for kids
Sir George Eliott Meyrick Tapps-Gervis-Meyrick (born September 1, 1827 – died March 7, 1896) was an important landowner and developer. He also held a special role as the High Sheriff of Anglesey in 1878. Sir George is remembered for his contributions to the growth of the town of Bournemouth.
Contents
Sir George Meyrick: Landowner and Developer
Early Life and Inheritance
Sir George was born in Dover, a town in England. At the time, his father was a member of parliament for New Romney. This meant his father helped make laws for the country. When Sir George was just 15 years old, he inherited his father's large estate. Later, he went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university, from 1846 to 1849.
A New Name and Estate
In 1876, Sir George changed his name to Meyrick. He did this because of the will of Owen Fuller Meyrick. Owen was a relative of Sir George's mother. From Owen, Sir George inherited a huge estate called Bodorgan in Anglesey. This estate was about 17,000-acre (69 km2) in size.
Helping Bournemouth Grow
Sir George played a big part in how the town of Bournemouth grew. He was one of the people who supported the Bournemouth Improvement Act 1856. This act created a special group called an improvement commission. This commission was the town's first local government. As the lord of the manor (a powerful landowner), Sir George had a permanent spot on this board. However, he did not attend many meetings.
Sir George was also involved with building Bournemouth's pier in 1861. A pier is a long structure built out over the water. It is often used for walking or for boats to dock.
Railways and Parks
At first, Sir George did not want a railway built to Bournemouth. The direct train line would have gone through his land at Hinton Admiral. But Sir Merton Russell Cotes helped change his mind. Sir Merton talked to both Sir George and the local business owners in Bournemouth. He explained how much the railway would help the town. It would make travel to London much faster, which was a big benefit for the resort.
There was also a disagreement about some common lands in Bournemouth. These lands had been set aside for public use under an old law from 1802. Sir George, as the lord of the manor, was in charge of these lands. The townspeople wanted to turn these common areas into public parks. This caused some tension between Sir George and the people of Bournemouth.
Meyrick Park's Legacy
In 1890, Bournemouth officially became a borough. This decision meant the townspeople had more control over their land. After this, Sir George worked well with the town. The first new park opened in 1894. It was named Meyrick Park in his honor, celebrating his contributions to the town.
