The DYALLS of MERIDEN, WARWICKSHIRE
MERIDEN was first written about in 1230 just after King John sealed the Magna Carta. By the time of Edward 1st 1272 - 1307 there was a thriving community, and in 1845 The Birmingham and Warwickshire Directory states
"The village is situated in a valley on the high and direct road from London to Hollyhead, having several genteel houses which ,with its pleasant and picturesque situation, gives it a cheerful and most agreeable aspect. The parish contains 2,870 acres and a population of 1,071"
In the middle 1600`s GEORGE DYALL arrived in MERIDEN and at this stage we have no idea where he came from,
he had plenty of money buying land and a property called "THE TALBOT". The property was in good condition having a four poster bed with green curtains, and the other rooms were either green or blue. There was no sign of brewing but this soon changed and "The Talbot" (now "The Bull") reopened as an Inn and also developed as a bakery, the previous owner William Bagot paid "2 hearths" in 1662 so no doubt one was a bread oven.
The farming part of George Dyall`s investment was in a run down condition with only "7 beasts and 2 hoggs." He
leased land to William Fulford (1696) and William Faulconbridge, Meriden Hill to Thomas Westcott, Tyburn Close, to the Wimspers, and the plots in the open fields to Henry Barnet. The lease for Fulford and Faulconbridge stated that, the owners required everywhere to be tidy with grass mown in the Barn Close, and no land could be converted from grazing to arable without permission.
When George Dyall died in 1693/4 his son George Walker Dyall took over, and he married Elizabeth Yearnwood of
Warwick daughter of an Inn keeper, and she took over the brewing. They had one daughter Katherine who married
George Jones,they had a son George Walker Jones, who, when his father George Jones died in 1749 became one of
the leading villagers, involved in parish matters, as an overseeer of the poor, and surveyor of the highways.
George Walker Jones married Sarah Parker, daughter of John Parker ( 2nd Earl of Aylesfords agent). Some years
later a Susannah Bradford left "20 dozen of bread to be brought of and distributed by George Walker Jones " in his
dual capacity; baker and overseer". George's standing in the community was helped at this time as his cousin Rev Samuel Jones was the vicar. George and Sarah had a daughter who married a Dickenson, and at the death of
Frances in 1795 came the end of ownership of the property after 168 years.
In the early 1800`s many of "my" line of Dyalls were involved with the Ribbon weaving industry, in the Coventry
area ,when the children were also weaving from as young as 7years.
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