Odell Timeline
1066: Domesday survey valued Odell Watermill at 36s 8d and 200 eels a year.
1221: William Fitz Warine paid 100s for the right to hold a market; the market was held on Thursdays and mentioned frequently during the remainder of the 13th century and first half of the 14th century.
1582: Peter Bulkley born, he succeeded his father as rector of Odell (1620-34). As a Puritan he was deprived of his living and emigrated to New England. He went on to found Concord. In 1651 he published "The Gospel Covenant Opened", one of the first books to be published in America.
1623: William Alston built a house on the site of the old Odell castle. \
1717: The Bishop of Lincoln counted 66 families on a visit.
1771: An epidemic of smallpox occurred in which 12 people died.
1776: The area was enclosed by Act of Parliament. Odell Enclosure Act passed.
1801: The population was 361.
1851: The census listed 22 Odells.
1863: Reverend Searle persuaded newly-weds George and Sarah Odell to emigrate to New Zealand
1931: The population was 226.
1984/5: The village welcomed folk from Concord, Massachusetts, as part of their 350-year celebrations.
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/
vlib/0.digitised_resources/odell_digitisation_timeline.htm
Odell Castle
Odell Castle was a 11th century castle in the village of Odell, in the county of Bedfordshire, England (grid reference SP966579).
The land where Odell Castle stood was originally owned by Levenot, a thane of King Edward the Confessor. At the time, the land and village were called Wahull. After the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror gave the lands, manor, and title, to Walter de Flandrensis (circa 1068). Walter was titled the Baron of Wahull, and was thus recorded as Walter de Wahul. De Wahul built a Motte-and-bailey castle, with a stone keep, on the land. The family lived here for some 400 years.
In 1542, the title died out with the absence of a male heir and came into the possession of 17 year old Agnes Woodhall, a descendant of de Wahul's. Upon her death in 1575 it passed to her son Richard Chetwood, who sold it to William Alston in 1633. By the time of the sale, the castle was already in ruins. Alston built a new residence, incorporating the remains of the keep, the oval motte of the old castle still held up by a retaining wall. Alterations were made by his descendants in the 18th century. It stayed as thus until 24 February 1931, when the manor burnt down. A new manor house was built on the site in 1962, and is currently owned by Baron Luke of Pavenham.
The old stones were used in the construction of the new manor, but otherwise there is little left of the original castle. Only cropmarks and earthworks remain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odell_Castle
Odell Castle is a Norman earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by Walter de Wahul, count of Flanders. Sadly nothing is known for certain, about the history and the layout of its later fortifications. The castle, with its stone keep was in ruins by the 16th century and later building has obliterated part of the motte and most of the masonry.
Odell Castle is located in the village centre, off High Street. 9 miles north-west of Bedford, on the A6-local roads. The site is visible from the road. Car parking is by the side of the road, at the church.
http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_midlands/153/
odellcastle.htm
The mutilated earthwork remains of Odell Castle, a motte and bailey with a stone keep was described as a ruin in C16 by Leland. A new residence was built in 1623, using the remains of the keep and was altered in C18 and C19. The present residence was built circa 1962. All remains of the castle have been destroyed by buildings and garden landscaping.
http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/45.html
There is evidence that there was a church building in Odell village from as early as 1220, when Robert of Dunton is recorded as minister. A coffin lid also survives from this century. The present All Saints, however, dates from the 15th century. Built of limestone from Northamptonshire, it is a little untypical of Bedfordshire churches. In the late 17th century the building was greatly improved and in 1820 a clock was put in the tower. Further improvements were made in 1868, and in 1958 a sixth bell was added to the ring.
One of the more famous ministers at All Saints was Peter Bulkeley. Born in Odell in 1582, he became its rector in 1624, but since he did not “conform” to the requirements of the establishment, was suspended. In May 1635, like many other Nonconformists of the time, he emigrated to New England on the Susan and Ellen. On arrival he moved on to found the city of Concord, Massachusetts, becoming its first minister.
Between 1977-1981, the All Saints church and nearby Castle Ashby played host to the radical Christian UK Youth Festival, GreenBelt, attended by up to 15000 people. A park bench on the village green, outside the pub and against the wall of the castle, was given to the village by the organisers in 1979.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odell,_Bedfordshire
Odell All Saints Church
The church and the castle are to be found, naturally, in a pre-eminent position at the pinnacle of the hill in Odell. It is just a short roll down the hill to the charming stone and thatch public house on the green - ‘The Bell’- with its warming log fires in winter and relaxing garden that runs down to the river , so popular in summer.
The Ghost of Sir Rowland Alston
'Phantom lord who terrorised village
12th July 1984
Ampthill and Flitwick Times
SIR Rowland Alston was notoriously wicked in
his lifetime - and just as bad when he was dead.
The ghost of this depraved baron used to walk through walls and tree trunks in broad daylight and ride a phantom black charger into the hall of his ancestral home, Odell Castle, where hoof marks could be seen on the flags of the floor.
He terrorised the neighbourhood so much that one night 12 clergymen with bells, books and candles ambushed him and practised an exorcism ceremony that consigned his spirit to a pond on Odell Wold. Here he remained for more than 100 years and although passers-by sometimes heard his snoring, his mischievous hauntings ceased for the time being.
Eventually he tired of his watery bed and managed to crawl out on dry land, only to find the Devil waiting for him! He was chased all round the countryside but managed to reach the village church just before the Devil pounced.
EVIL
He floated in through the keyhole as Satan shook the church in rage, leaving five giant fingermarks on the stone jamb of the porch. Nowadays Sir Rowland contents himself by riding a charit and pair around his former estates once every 100 years. His next appearance will be in 2044.'
The village of Odell is one of the smallest of the Ouse valley villages, with about two hundred households. Though small, it is a lively, thriving community in which every age group is represented. Odell is situated in the north of Bedfordshire, near to the borders with Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, and the influence of these counties can be seen in Odell’s old association with lacemaking and, more recently, the leather industry. It has always been a farming community, with much of the land belonging to Lord Luke of Pavenham and Odell, but in recent years the village has attracted many who work in local towns - with Bedford only ten miles away - and commuters, with a fast train service from Bedford to London.
Changes to the village have been gentle, and easily absorbed. New building has been subtly integrated with the old limestone and thatch buildings, and newcomers to the village have likewise been welcomed into the social scene. But, whatever changes occur over the years, Odell never loses its individual character which has grown out of its history. Reminders of its feudal past still
Odell, Bedfordshire
exist in its Castle, (not fortified), and the Manor House, and indeed many of the villagers were in the employment of Lord Luke until recently. In his book "Down the River" H.E. Bates sees the "Ouse Valley " people as still being in "feudal servitude.......still in bondage to the land". However, appearances belie the true character of the Odell folk who have always been far from subservient. Indeed, it was from All Saint’s Church in Odell that the Reverend Peter Baulkley led his dissident flock (in rebellion against the Church under Archbishop Laud) to new pastures in the U.S.A., where he founded Concord, Massachusetts in 1635. The close relationship between Concord and Odell is still kept alive by many villagers, and in 1984 a large party from Concord visited Odell to rediscover their roots.
http://www.odellbeds.net/
The Bell - the one and only Local pub
excerpt from Taylor Odell's travelblog to Odell
December 2, 2006
" ....We then went back down the hill and decided it was time for a beverage at the Bell. We walked in and didn't think we were going to get through the doorway (which was only about 5’10” high!!!) as there were so many people in there. It turns our the Sunday lunch is a very popular thing in that town and is just as busy every weekend.
However the Odell Ghosts must have been looking after us as we were soon told that 2 tables had opened up so we were able to have lunch in Odell after all! It was a lovely pub and has been beautifully maintained in its original condition and had fireplaces and everything. The ceiling was so low that Byron couldn't walk straight in
parts of it, and then the doorways were even smaller so that I even had to duck through! They must have bred them short back in the days it was built!!
We sat down at the back of the pub in a nice little corner, conveniently located close to the toilets, and far enough away from the busy bar. We then had to choose from a vast range of beautiful sounding and looking Sunday dinners. There were all different types of roasts, and beautiful chicken breast and salmon dishes, vege lasagne, ham, egg and chips and the list goes on! So byron and I decided on the Hame and Eggs with Chips, which was really tasty but as soon as Martin and Julie’s lamb dishes came out I instantly regretted my decision! Damn it!
But ours were still really yummy and definitely filled the gap for lunch. We then HAD to have a look at the desert menu and I swear, they must have hand picked every single one of my favourite deserts!! There was chocolate fudgecake, lemon cheesecake, lemon mirangue pie, Caramel Apple pie, sticky date pudding, treacle pudding and a couple more! So Byron and I went for a caramel apple pie and a sticky date and went half/half. It was the best sticky date pudding i have had (sorry mum!) and the Caramel Apple pie was delicious! So all round a fantastic meal in Odell, with the Odells!
http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Bedfordshire/blog-108311.html
The old Odell Mill
The Odell Clan - the coat of arms, name history
Geneology - the family history of the Odell clan
Goodie Knapp - the trial of an alleged witch
