Harrold Village
One resident remembers that the houses used to have pumps in the yard and water had to be pumped up to the tank before it could be drawn from the taps. As a lad he used to earn 6d a week going to one house every day and pump up.
The ancient industry of the village was wool but in latter times leather took over and there were four factories engaged in dressing and finishing hides which were imported, mostly from India. Now it is no longer economic to import skins and one by one the factories have closed. One now manufactures fire doors and two have been pulled down and houses built on the sites.
Once a year the Pit Run is organised by the Community Centre Committee and is so called because it is run round the Country Park which has been made on the site of the old gravel pits. When the park was made there was a suggestion to rename it 'The Park Run' but no-one wanted that, so it remains 'The Pit Run' to the probable confusion of future contestants. If the weather is fine it is a beautiful route starting from Harrold Green and running round the lakes to Odell and back. The park is very fine with a wealth of wild life both bird and mammal as this is now otter country
Years ago many of the village women supplemented their income by making pillow lace. Sadly all the old lace makers have faded away.
No so faded are the memories of the night Paul McCartney, at the time still with the Beatles, stopped off at the Oakley arms and using the piano in the bar performed Hey Jude to a large audience, the village telegraph making sure the pub filled up very quickly for the free concert.
Size = 176k
Size = 164k
