In the mid 19th century, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Mersham in the following terms: The village stands adjacent to the Tunbridge and Dover railway, 1½ mile NNW of Smeeth r. station, and 3½ SE of Ashford; and has a post office under Ashford and a fair on WhitFriday.

The church is ancient but good; comprises nave, aisles, and two chancels; and contains monuments of the Hatch family.

[2][c] Until the early 20th century Mersham was for its majority a farming and orchard-tending community with close ties to the local market town of Ashford.

The Anglican church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is in the highest category of listed building, at Grade I.

In 1638 Sir Norton Knatchbull founded Ashford Grammar School, to which pupils were not admitted until they could read the Bible in English, he was also the Member of Parliament for Romney.