User:Jampot23/Harrold, Bedfordshire

Harrold is a civil parish and electoral ward in the Borough of Bedford within Bedfordshire, England, around twelve 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.

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.

Two schools exist in the village: Harrold Lower School and Harrold Priory Middle School.

History
Harrold was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a parish within the Hundred of Willey. of the village is Odell.

An early medieval sword mount was unearthed by a metal detectorist in 2006. It is believed the tiny decoration could have adorned the sword belt of a high-ranking Saxon warrior.

Electoral ward
Today an electoral ward within the Borough of Bedford, is named after Harrold 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.