Harrold, Bedfordshire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harrold
Harrold Village Green - geograph.org.uk - 278579.jpg
Village green
Harrold is located in Bedfordshire
Harrold
Harrold
Location within Bedfordshire
Population1,691 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid referenceSP950567
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBEDFORD
Postcode districtMK43
Dialling code01234
PoliceBedfordshire
FireBedfordshire and Luton
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Bedfordshire
52°12′N 0°37′W / 52.2°N 0.61°W / 52.2; -0.61Coordinates: 52°12′N 0°37′W / 52.2°N 0.61°W / 52.2; -0.61

Harrold is a civil parish and electoral ward in the Borough of Bedford within Bedfordshire, England, around nine miles north-west of Bedford. The village is on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, close to the county boundaries of Buckinghamshire (Milton Keynes) and Northamptonshire (North Northamptonshire) and is the site of an ancient bridge, linking the village with Carlton with Chellington on the south bank. Immediately to the east of the village is Odell. Across the bridge is Carlton.[2]

The buttermarket in Harrold has often been an iconic image in Harrold, along with the bridge. It also used to be the logo for one of the schools in Harrold. Harrold also has a village lock-up that was used to detain drunks and suspected criminals. It is no longer in use.[3]

Harrold Primary Academy is a primary school located in the village.[4]

The Church of St Peter is also located in the village.

History[]

Harrold was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a parish within the Hundred of Willey.[5]

An early medieval sword mount was unearthed by a metal detectorist in 2006. It is believed the tiny phallic decoration could have adorned the sword belt of a high-ranking Saxon warrior.[6]

There are two public houses in Harrold. The Muntjac and the Oakley Arms. Paul McCartney reputedly gave the first live performance of Hey Jude in the Oakley Arms in Harrold on 30 June 1968.[7][8]

The village was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.[9]

Electoral ward[]

Today an electoral ward within the Borough of Bedford, is named after Harrold Bishop and contains four civil parishes within its boundaries. Parishes and settlements within the ward, from south to north are Harrold parish, Odell parish, Podington parish including Hinwick and Farndish, and Wymington parish including . Harrold itself is near the southern boundary of its ward which follows some of the River Great Ouse. The ward extends northward from Harrold and fills the northwest corner of Bedfordshire, bordering Northamptonshire.[10]

Twin towns[]

Notable people[]

  • W. T. Godber (1904–1981), English agriculturalist; worked in Harrold.
  • George Le Fevre (1848–1891), surgeon and politician in colonial Australia; born in Harrold.
  • Leslie Prentice (1886–1928), Australian-born English cricketer; died in Harrold.
  • Ashley Walker (1844–1927), English amateur cricketer; died in Harrold.

Gallery[]

  • The bridge at Harrold

  • The picture of Harrold Buttermarket, before the new roof tiles.

  • Harrold Fire Station

  • Harrold lock-up

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  2. ^ The Parish of Harrold in General Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Fairs and Markets". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  4. ^ Sources for Education in Harrold Archived 9 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ British History Online – Parishes and dates
  6. ^ Saxon Decoration Article and Photo
  7. ^ Through The Door At Apple Corps Ep 2
  8. ^ Bolton, Josh (13 February 2021). "Dad remembers 'magical night' Paul McCartney debuted 'Hey Jude' in a Beds village pub". Bedfordshire Live. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  9. ^ "European Severe Weather Database".
  10. ^ Harrold Ward Profile

External links[]

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