 |
Bedfordshire |  |
Contents |  Nearby Places
Nearby churches |
ODELL, a parish the hundred of WILLEY, county of BEDFORD, 1¼ mile (N.E by N.) from Harrold, containing 439 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £19. T. Alston, Esq. was patron in 1798. The church is dedicated to All Saints. This place formerly possessed a market, granted to William Fitzwarren, in 1222, which has been long disused; but a fair is held on the Thursday and Friday in Whitsun-week. Odell castle, the seat of the Alston family, a small part of which constitutes the remains of the ancient building of the same name, stands conspicuously on an eminence, commanding a fine view of the river Ouse.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Odell 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 All Saints, standing at a considerable elevation above the road, is a building of stone, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles, embattled south porch, with groined roof, and a lofty western embattled tower with pinnacles and containing a clock and 5 bells: there is a rood screen in good preservation, and a rood loft, and the rich Jacobean pulpit has an hour stand: the chancel and some other portions of this church were restored in 1867-8 under the direction of Mr. Slater: some very fine old glass has been cleaned and replaced: the west window was entirely restored in 1888 and is now an exact copy of the old window, with the addition of cathedral glass: the chancel retains a piscina and graduated sedilia, and there is a piscina in each of the aisles; the font is octagonal and has traceried panels: in the north aisle are several floriated coffin-lids of the 14th century : in the chancel is a monument by Bacon, to L!eut. Thomas Alston, 40th regt. who fell at Monte Video in 1807, and there are many others to this family of earlier date, including Frances, wife of Thomas 1644; William Alston esq. 1637; Sir Thomas Alston bart. 1678; and Elizabeth, his wife, 1677; Thomas Alston, their son, 1668; Sir Rowland Alston bart. 1697; and Temperance, his wife, 1728; Vere John Alston, rector, 1762; two later baronets, and numerous descendants : the church plate includes a chalice and paten of silver-gilt, presented by William Aston esq. 1637; and a paten given by Dame Temperance Wolstenholme, in 1728: there are 230 sittings. The register dates from the year 1604.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Church of England
The parish record transcripts for All Saints are available on microfiche for the period 1604-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
Pillow lace is made here to a small extent, and leather dressing is carried on. Odell Castle, the property of Crewe Alston esq. and now the residence of George William John Repton esq. and Lady Jane Repton, is a large and partially embattled mansion of stone, standing on an eminence immediately above the Ouse, and commanding a fine view of the surrounding country; the pleasure grounds extend over about 11 acres, and are tastefully laid out. Crewe Alston esq. is lord of the manor and sole landowner.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Find help, report problems, and contribute information.
[Last updated 16 March 2003 Martin Edwards]