Merton is a village, ecclesiastical parish, former manor and civil parish administered by the local government district of Torridge, Devon, England. The parish, which lies about five miles south east of the town of Great Torrington, is surrounded clockwise from the north by the parishes of Little Torrington, Beaford, Dolton, Huish, Petrockstowe and Peters Marland. In 2001 its population was 331, down from the 507 residents it had in 1901. The eastern and northern boundaries of the parish follow the loops of the River Torridge and the other sides are defined by the River Mere. The village forms part of the electoral ward of Clinton

All Saints Church

The parish church on the west side of the village, is dedicated to All Saints and dates from around 1400. It suffered a heavy Victorian restoration between 1872 and 1875 by R. M. Fulford, but the east window of the north chapel retains many fragments of late medieval stained glass.

The Church comprises Nave, Chancel, North Aisle, South Transept (Specott Aisle), Western Tower and South Porch. It dates back to 1261, although practically nothing remains of the original church except the Norman doorway and font. The Church was rebuilt in the 15th century, and restored in 1875. The Porch was added around 1840.

Five bays down the church divide the Nave and North Aisle, with slender clustered granite columns, having small carved capitals decorated with primitive abaci and depressed pointed arches.

Western Tower. There are six bells in the tower, in the key of G. The oldest is believed to date from 1420, and the most recent from 1858. They were all re-hung in 2010, and re-dedicated by the Bishop of Crediton on October 10th 2010. The stained glass window depicts the Apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Norman Font. Varies from others of its type on account of the masks that are carved, face upwards, on the plinth. The carved pyramid cover is Jacobean.

Historic Estates

Various historic estates are situated within the parish and were mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, including:

• Potheridge, now a farmhouse, long the seat of the Monck family and the birthplace in 1608 of General George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, the main force behind the Restoration of the Monarchy to King CHarles II in 1660. General Monck reconstructed the house on a grand scale, presumably after 1660, but much of it was demolished some time after 1734. Surviving features include a late-17th-century grand staircase and part of the great hall with its ornate overmantle
• Speccot, in the mediaeval age was the seat of the prominent de Speccot family.

Merton Moor

Merton Moor on the border between the parishes of Merton and Petrockstowe, has been the site of ball clay extraction for many years, and the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway ran through the west of the parish between 1925 and 1982 to serve the ball clay industry. Today the former railway line forms part of the Tarka Trail series of footpaths and cycle tracks.