Odney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Odney |
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.jpg) Grove Farm and Odney Common |
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 Odney
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| OS grid reference | SU898854 |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAIDENHEAD |
| Postcode district | SL6 |
| Dialling code | 01628 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Odney is a special place in England, located in the county of Berkshire. It's both a piece of shared land (called a common) and a small island in the famous River Thames. Odney is part of a larger area known as Cookham.
The name "Odney" might come from an old Saxon phrase, "Wodenes-Eye." This means "Woden's Isle," suggesting the island might have been a sacred spot for Woden, a main god in Saxon beliefs.
Where is Odney Located?
Odney is found just east of the village of Cookham. It sits south of the River Thames. You can find it about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Maidenhead. It's also very close to Cookham Lock, which is a part of the river that helps boats move between different water levels.
Right across the Thames from Odney is the beautiful Cliveden Estate. In autumn, the whole valley around Odney and Cliveden becomes very colorful. The trees show off bright reds, oranges, and yellows.
The Odney Pottery Works
From 1942 to 1956, there was a place called the Odney Pottery works on the common. You can still see the building today. The pottery made attractive earthenware, which is a type of clay pottery. Many people still look for and collect these pieces.
The pottery was started by John Lewis in 1942. They asked a person named John Bew to set it up in Cookham. The main goal was to train people with disabilities. In 1948, the pottery received a special government license. This allowed them to produce pottery for homes. A famous potter named Geoffrey Eastop (1921–2014) worked there for a year early in his career.
Lullebrook Manor and the Odney Club
The Odney Club is a hotel and conference center. It is owned by the John Lewis Partnership. This means it is available for their staff, who are called "Partners," to use. The club is built around a historic building called Lullebrook Manor.
Lullebrook Manor is a beautiful country house from the mid-1700s. A long time ago, a person named Colonel Francis Ricardo rented this house. He was the first person in Cookham to own a car. He was also the High Sheriff of Berkshire in the early 1900s. Some people believe he was the inspiration for the character of Mr. Toad in the famous book, The Wind in the Willows, written by Kenneth Grahame.
Records show that a property has been on this site for a very long time. It existed as early as the 1200s. Back then, the house was owned by a family known as the De Lullebrook family.
