Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for HARROLD

HARROLD, a small town, a parish, and a sub-district in the district and county of Bedford. The town stands on the river Ouse, 2½ miles ENE of the meeting-point with Bucks and Northamptonshire, 4 WSW of Sharnbrook r. station, and 9 NW of Bedford; was formerly called Harewold or Harewood; and has a post-office‡ under Bedford, a neat market-house, a good bridge over the Ouse, a church, a large Independent chapel, national schools, and six alms-houses. The church consists of nave, aisles, and double chancel, with tower and spire; is in good condition; and has an ancient monument to Lady Joliffe. A weekly cornmarket is held on Tuesday; cattle fairs are held on the Tuesday before 13 May, the Tuesday before 6 July, and the Tuesday before 11 Oct.; and lace-making is carried on.—The parish comprises 3,240 acres. Real property, £4,242. Pop., 1,119. Houses, 244. The landed property is divided among a few. The manor belongs to the Countess Cowper. A small Augustinian priory was founded near the town, in the time of Stephen; and was given, at the dissolution, to Lord Parr. A mansion called Harrold Hall, belonging to the Alston family, and a farm-house, belonging to the Gambiers, are now on the priory's grounds. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely. Value, £202.* Patron, the Countess Cowper.—The sub-district contains also five other parishes. Acres, 12,100. Pop., 3,238. Houses, 708.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a small town, a parish, and a sub-district"   (ADL Feature Type: "cities")
Administrative units: Harrold AP/CP       Harrold SubD       Bedford RegD/PLU       Bedfordshire AncC
Place names: HAREWOLD     |     HAREWOOD     |     HARROLD
Place: Harrold

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