During our searches over the last couple of weeks we have found ourselves out and about in Odiham which is one of north Hampshire’s prettiest and most sought after towns to live in.
We thought we would investigate a bit more about its history.
Its long wide High Street has the finest range of historic buildings of any town in Hampshire. Dating from 1300, they are nearly all listed buildings. Prior to Georgian and Victorian ‘modernisation’, at least 20 of the timber framed buildings were jettied (ie with an overhanging upper storey ). A glance at the side walls of some of the buildings gives an indication of their earlier origins. The size and quality of the buildings are indications of the wealth and prosperity of Odiham in the medieval period. During the Napoleonic Wars a number of French prisoners of war were on parole in Odiham, living in cottages in the old chalk pit near the town, and the parish churchyard contains the graves of several French prisoners who died during their time there.
The now-ruined Odiham Castle at North Warnborough is the only castle in England with an octagonal keep. King John was a regular visitor, and left from Odiham Castle in 1215 to affix his seal to the Magna Carta at Runnymede in Surrey.
If you haven’t already explored this lovely town, make plans to do so soon!