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MAMMOTH DRIVE, COXSWELL AVENUE, GLAISHER DRIVE,  Science Park, Stafford Road

These are the three roads which serve the Science Park.  The Park is built on the site of the old Wolverhampton Gas Works which produced a very might gas which was often used by balloonists.  The roads are named after Henry Coxswell and James Glaisher who, on 5th September 1862, rose from this site to a height of c.30,000 feet, then a world altitude without oxygen (they passed out and nearly died).  After some research it was found that the balloon was called Mammoth.

(Anthony Patten)

MANOR ROAD (Penn)

Penn Manor, constructed about 1851, was a large building with three gables, having a huge walled garden. It stood on the corner of Penn Road and Manor Road, opposite the present Medical Centre.

Inside the accommodation comprised of four large rooms on the lower floor, eight on the first floor and four rooms in the attic.

There were several out-houses, a huge barn, stables and a carriage house. The last owner was a Mr Francis Heckinger who divided the house into flatlets. It was demolished in the 1950s.

The site is at present a public playing field.  

(Peter Hickman)

MARCHANT ROAD, Green Lanes

Named after a Bilston Borough councillor.  

(Tom Larkin)

MARKET STREET, City Centre

Named after the pig market which was held here when the Town Commissioners removed the pig market from Dudley Street.

(Anthony Perry)

MASON STREET, Blakenhall

Named after Jeremiah Mason, who owned the King's Arms on Dudley Road and other land hereabouts, including the land he sold for the building of St. Luke's church and school.  He was associated with the early days of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC when the club met in his pub.

(Angie Johnson)

MERRIDALE ROAD (also Lane, Court, Gardens, Avenue and Crescent)

The remains of Old Merridale Farm still stands on the corner of Merridale Road and Merridale Lane. This was the home of the Salford Family who obtained it by marriage in the 13^th Century and remained there, often in the capacity of lawyer or stewards of the manor, until the death of Rev Michael Salford in 1601. It was then purchased in 1614 by Richard Jackson, whose brother Henry was Vicar of Dudley. Most of the building was destroyed in 1930-1950 but the remains are now a listed building. The lands were originally bought by the Petits who also owned the New Merridale Farm, which is now better known as Bantock House.

The name Merridale means Mirey or Muddy Dale. The Graiseley Brook flows through the valley between the two properties.  

(Peter Hickman)

MERRILLS HALL LANE, Willenhall

Merrill’s Hall stood close to the junction with Waddems Brook Lane. It was a moated manor house occupied by a family in the 17^th Century of the name of Merrill  

(Peter Hickman)

McLEAN ROAD, Oxley

MITRE FOLD, City Centre

At the corner of Mitre Fold and North Street stood the Old Mire in, perhaps so called because a Catholic Bishop lived not far away at Giffard House.  We can assume that this pub provides the derivation of the name.

(Anthony Perry)

MUCHALL ROAD, Upper Penn

Muchall means Great Hall and was one of the outlying hamlets of the Village of Penn. It is spelled in various ways in the Parish register…Migehall, Mushall, Muchale, Mycholl and Mitchell.

Muchall Hall stood at the corner of Mount Road (at one time called Cuckoo Lane) and Manor Road. It was bought in 1815 by William Thacker, a solicitor. When he died in 1854 the estate was sold in 30 lots. Lots 5-15 lay on the south eastern side of the Penn Road. On part of this land Charles Clark was to build Muchall Grove about 1860. The roadway through the land became Muchall Road. On the opposite side of the Penn Road lots 16-30 became the land on which Wynn Road was to be built  

(Peter Hickman)