Bedfordshire 
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Nearby Places
Nearby churches
HARROLD, a market town and parish in the hundred of WILLEY, county of BEDFORD, 8 miles (N.W. by W.) from Bedford, and 58 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 939 inhabitants. This small town is situated in a fertile agricultural district, on the banks of the river Ouse, over which there is a stone bridge. The only branch of manufacture carried on is that of lace. There is a small market on a Tuesday; and fairs for the sale of (cattle and pedlary) are held on the Tuesdays preceding May 13th, July 6th, and October 11th. The petty sessions for the hundreds of Barford, Stodden, and Willey, are chiefly held here, but sometimes at Bletsoe. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books £8, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Countess De Grey. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a fine structure, with a handsome tower and spire. There is a place of worship for Independents. Six almshouses for six poor widows were founded in 1723, by Mrs. Anne Jolliffe, and subsequently received a small endowment from a benefaction by her niece, Ann Mead, who also gave £20 per annum to the vicar, for an afternoon lecture every Sunday. A priory was founded here in the reign of Stephen, which afterwards became a convent of Augustine nuns, the revenue of which, at the dissolution, was estimated at £47.3.2.: there are no remains of the conventual buildings except the refectory, which has been used as a barn.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Harrold can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 1, Book 2 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
Church of England
The church of St. Peter is an edifice of stone, in the Transition-Norman, Early English and Decorated styles, consisting of chancel with north chapel, clerestoried nave, aisles and a western tower, with pinnacles and spire, and containing a clock and 5 bells ; one chancel belongs to Earl Cowper K.G. the other to George Farrar esq. : the font has a circular basin, supported on four shafts ; the rood screen remains, and the pulpit and prayer desk are both partially constructed of old carved oak : in the chancel is an ancient mural monument, with bust, to the Hon. Anne Joliffe, who founded six almshouses in this town for six aged widows : on the south side of the chancel is an altar tomb to Oliver Boteler esq. 1657 : there is also a memorial to Anne, second wife of the distinguished physician, Dr. Richard Mead inscribed stones to James Boteler, 1690, and Judith his wife, 1712 ; and memorials to the Alston, Joliffe, Gybbon, Fisher and other families : the church plate includes a chalice dated 1699, a paten given by the Hon. Anne Joliffe in 1728, and a flagon presented by the Hon. Lady Temperance Wolstenholm in 1726 ; all of silver : the church will seat 400 persons. The register dates from the year 1598.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Non-conformist
The Congregetional chapel was enlarged in 1863, and a minister's residence built in 1886 : a mission hall was opened in 1876 : a Mutual Improvement Society, formed in 1886, holds its meetings in the Congregational school room.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Church of England
The parish record transcripts for St. Peter are available on microfiche for the period 1598-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
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[Last updated 20 June 2003 Martin Edwards]