Harrold
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

Harrold is a village, civil parish and electoral ward in Bedfordshire, England, nine miles north-west of Bedford on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, close to the county boundaries of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. An ancient bridge links the village with Carlton with Chellington on the south bank. Immediately to the east of the village is Odell.[2]

The Church of St Peter is in the village.

History

Harrold was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a parish within the Hundred of Willey.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5][6]

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.[7]

Electoral ward

Today an electoral ward within the Borough of Bedford, it contains four civil parishes within its boundaries. Civil parishes and settlements within the ward (from south to north) are Harrold CP, Odell parish, Podington CP including Hinwick and Farndish, and Wymington CP including Little Wymington. 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.[8]

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.

Freedom of the Parish

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Parish of Harrold.

Individuals

  • Jason Chandler: April 2023.[9]


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. ↑ British History Online – Parishes and dates
  4. ↑ Saxon Decoration Article and Photo
  5. ↑ Through The Door At Apple Corps Ep 2
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "European Severe Weather Database".
  8. ↑ Harrold Ward Profile
  9. ↑ "Freedom of the Parish". Harrold Parish Council. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
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