Population 1,691 (2011 Census) Ceremonial county Bedfordshire Country England Local time Friday 8:01 AM UK parliament constituency North East Bedfordshire | OS grid reference SP950567 Region East Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 01234 | |
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Weather 4°C, Wind SW at 16 km/h, 83% Humidity | ||
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, 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.
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Map of Harrold, UK
The buttermarket in Harrold has often been an iconic and controversial 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 animals. It is no longer in use.
Two schools exist in the village: Harrold Lower School and Harrold Priory Middle School.
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.
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. 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.
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 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.