Harrold is a village, 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]

Harrold
Village green
Harrold Location within Bedfordshire
Population	1,691 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	SP950567
Unitary authority	Bedford
Ceremonial county	Bedfordshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BEDFORD
Postcode district	MK43
Dialling code	01234
Police	Bedfordshire
Fire	Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	North East Bedfordshire
List of places UK England Bedfordshire 52.2°N 0.61°W / 52.2; -0.61

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, 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.[10]

Twin towns

• Sainte-Pazanne, Loire-Atlantique

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

• Harrold Hall

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harrold, Bedfordshire.

• Harrold Community Website
• Harrold Parish Council
• Bedfordshire Archives and Records on Harrold