(like Wodelle this is another variant of the name). She married twice and her son by Richard Chetwood, also called Richard, became the heir to the estate on her death in 1575. About this time the village often becomes referred to as Odell. In 1613 Richard made efforts to be recognised as Baron of Odell (a claim his 18th-century great-great-grandson and 19th-century descendant also later pursued) but without success. In 1633, Richard sold the estate to William Alston and, after five hundred years, Odell village was no longer under the influence of a descendant of the family bearing the same name. Church history There is evidence that there was a church building in Odell village from as early as 1220, when Robert of Dunton is recorded as minister. A coffin lid also survives from this century. The present All Saints, however, dates from the 15th century. Built of limestone from Northamptonshire, it is a little atypical of Bedfordshire churches. In the late 17th century the building was greatly improved and in 1820 a clock was put in the tower. Further improvements were made in 1868, and in 1958 a sixth bell was added to the ring. One of the more famous ministers at All Saints was Peter Bulkeley. Born in Odell in 1582, he became its rector in 1624, but since he did not "conform" to the requirements of the establishment, was suspended. In May 1635, like many other Nonconformists of the time, he emigrated to New England on the Susan and Ellen. On arrival he moved on to found the town of Concord, Massachusetts, becoming its first minister. Between 1975 and 1981, All Saints' Church and Odell Castle played host to the Greenbelt Festival, attended by up to 15,000 people. A park bench on the village green, outside the pub and against the wall of the castle, was given to the village by the organisers in 1979. Odell was one of the first villages in England to have its own website with its parish magazine uploaded every month. This continues today on www.odellbeds.net, the village's website. The village: 18th century to today Notable events include: 1717: The Bishop of Lincoln counted 66 families on a visit. 1771: An epidemic of smallpox occurred in which 12 people died. 1776: The area was enclosed by Act of Parliament. 1801: The population was 361. 1851: The census listed 22 Odells. 1863: Reverend