Heritage & Historical Attractions

Odiham has been an important centre since Anglo-Saxon times and residents and visitors see maintaining this heritage as vital alike. Popular attractions include the 12th Century Odiham Castle, The High Street with Regency fronted premises concealing medieval buildings. The Grade 1 listed All Saints Church and the 17th Century Pest House

Odiham Castle

The Castle's construction at a cost exceeding £10,000 is well documented. But archaeologists and historians seldom agree about dates, and excavations carried out between 1981 and 1985 by the Hampshire County Museum Service illustrate these disagreements. Their most exciting and controversial discovery was of the remains of earlier buildings, cesspits and dressed stone walls, dating from c1100, some two metres below the surface of the existing octagonal keep.

Was it then perhaps a well-fortified hunting lodge that king John departed to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymead in 1215? Was the octagonal keep built after the well-documented siege of 1216 when 13 men defended the castle for 14 days against the might of Louis the Dauphin's French Army?

Although large sums of money had been spent on maintenance and repairs, by the 15th century the castle had ceased to be used as a Royal residence and was described as a ruin in 1603 when it passed from Royal ownership into private hands. It was purchased by Hampshire county Council in 1977 and is a scheduled ancient monument.

©text Sheila Millard 1993, photograph by Garrett Coakley

The Pest House

This ancient building of c1625 in the South-West corner of the churchyard was used to house local people or travellers suffering from the plague, smallpox or other infectious disease, until the late 18th century. It is one of only five surviving examples in Great Britain and was restored in 1981 by the Odiham Society to become a mini-heritage centre. It is open at weekends and bank holidays, or if you'd like to visit outside of these times the key is available from 'Number 81' in the High Street.

©text - Sheila Millard 1993, Photograph by Cathy Griffiths

The Stocks & Whipping Post

Legislation of 1376 required that stocks be set up in every town or village to encourage virtue and discourage evildoers. A short spell in the stocks was the usual reward for misdemeanours such as blasphemy, drunkenness or breaking the Sabbath. The Whipping Post still has iron grips of three different sizes to fit all comers! Neither were used after the early part of the 19th century when responsibility for miscreants had passed from the manorial Constable to the parish Vestry. The Stocks and The Whipping Post can be found in The Bury, close to All Saints Church.

©text Sheila Millard 1993 photograph by Garrett Coakley

(Photograph by Garrett Coakley)

The Bridewell

The Bridewell was purpose-built in 1743 as a Bridewell or House of Correction. It subsequently became a Police Station, which closed in 1972. This historic building is still home to Odiham's own police constable and is also the Library and visitors centre, containing a Local Information Point.

All Saints Church

The present Church, which is one of the two mentioned under the entry for Odiham in the Domesday Book, is believed to have replaced earlier buildings on this site. It is the largest parish chucrch in the north of the diocese and in 1851 when the old square box pews were removed, the new open seats and galleries could accomodate 1,200 parishioners. It has been describes as "an illustrated history of church architecture", and an excellent guide describing the peculiarities of the Royal Coat of Arms, are available from just inside the main door.

©text Sheila Millard 1993, Photograph by Cathy Griffiths

The Basingstoke Canal

The Basingstoke Canal can be found in Southern England between the village of Greywell in Hampshire and Woodham in Surrey. It was built between 1788 and 1794 and is 32 miles long with 29 locks. After many years of restoration it's now fully navigable, and connects to the River Wey Navigation, which in turn joins the River Thames. Approximately half of the canal is owned by Hampshire County Council and the other half by Surrey County Council. The "Basingstoke Canal Authority" (part of Hampshire County Council's "Countryside Service") undertakes the management of the whole canal.