Odell Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Odell Castle |
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| Odell, Bedfordshire, England | |
The new Odell Castle, built in 1962
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 Odell Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°12′39″N 0°35′15″W / 52.2109°N 0.5876°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks |
Odell Castle was an old castle from the 11th century. It was located in the village of Odell in Bedfordshire, England. Today, only parts of the original castle remain.
Contents
The Castle's Beginning
The land where Odell Castle stood was first owned by a local lord named Levenot. He was a trusted noble (called a thegn) who served King Edward the Confessor. Back then, the village and land were known as Wahull.
The Norman Invasion and New Owners
After the Norman invasion in 1066, William the Conqueror took control of England. He gave the land and its title to a man named Walter de Flandrensis around 1068. Walter became known as the Baron of Wahull.
Building Odell Castle
Walter de Flandrensis built the first Odell Castle. It was a type of castle called a motte-and-bailey. This means it had a large earth mound (the motte) with a wooden or stone tower on top. Below the mound was a walled courtyard (the bailey). Odell Castle also had a stone keep, which was a strong central tower. Walter's family lived in this castle for about 400 years!
Changes Over Time
In 1542, the family line that owned the castle ended because there were no more male heirs. The castle then went to 17-year-old Agnes Woodhall, who was a descendant of the original owners.
New Families and a New Home
When Agnes died in 1575, the castle passed to her son, Richard Chetwood. In 1633, Richard sold the property to William Alston. By this time, the old castle was already falling apart. The Alston family later became known as the Alston baronets of Odell.
William Alston built a new home on the site. He used some of the old castle's remains, including the oval mound (motte). His family made more changes to the house in the 1700s.
The Fire and What Remains
The Alston family's manor house stood until February 24, 1931, when it sadly burned down. A completely new manor house was built on the same spot in 1962. This new house is currently owned by Lord Luke.
Today, not much is left of the original Odell Castle. Some of its old stones were used to build the new manor. You can still see some cropmarks (patterns in crops that show old structures) and earthworks (changes in the shape of the land) that hint at where the castle once stood.
