Merley

Merley is a large housing estate in the borough of Poole, a mile (2 km) south of Wimborne Minster. Originally called Myrle, Merley was a manor in the tithing of Great Canford (or Canford Magna). 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:
Employment.
Source: First release of the 2001 Census 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 is also located nearby at Canford Magna.
Sport and leisure.
Merley has a Non-League football club Merley Cobham Sports F.C. 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.