Odiham in 1838
Odiham is in Odiham hundred, a little to the left of the great western (Salisbury and Exeter) road, 40 miles from London. The parish is large, comprehending 7,550 acres, and had in 1831 a population of 2,647, about half agricultural. The market is on Friday, and there are two yearly fairs. Odiham was formerly a free borough, belonging to the bishop of Winchester ; it had a royal residence and park ; the remains of the residence have been converted into a farm-house, still called Palace Gate, or Place Gate. There is an old almshouse near the church, which latter is a large ancient brick building. The living is a vicarage, with the parochial chapelry of Grewell annexed, in the diocese and archdeaconry of Winchester ; of the yearly value of £537, with a glebe-house. There is an Independent congregation at Odiham. There were in the parish in 1833 ten day or boarding and day-schools with about 250 children ; one of these schools, with 41 children, was partially supported by endowment ; there was also one Sunday-school with 187 children.
Near Odiham are the remains of an old castle, which in the civil wars at the close of King John’s reign, was bravely but unsuccessfully defended by a garrison of thirteen against the Dauphin, Louis of France. In this castle, David Bruce, king of Scotland, was confined for eleven years after his capture at Neville’s Cross.
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