Odiham

The village of Odiham in the county of Hampshire has a rich history and is home to the ruins of Odiham Castle, built by King John in the early 13^th century. It is thought that the castle was built here for geographic reasons as Odiham is halfway between Windsor and Winchester. The castle has been the scene of many historic events including; when it was besieged in 1216 by the French Dauphin Louis VIII, in 1238 the castle became the de Montfort family home, during the 14^th century it was the venue for a sitting of Parliament and also saw the imprisonment of King David II of Scotland for 11 years. By 1605 though, Odiham Castle is described as a ruin, as it is today.

Odiham offers ample amenities, lots of great shopping, markets, restaurants, eateries and pubs as well as the delights of the surrounding countryside, popular with walkers and bird-watchers. Steeped in historical architecture, Odiham is a designated Conservation Area containing one of the richest collections of historic buildings in Hampshire.  The Pest House is a fascinating attraction; built around 1622 it was used to house local people and travellers suffering from the plague and other infectious diseases. The Odiham Pest House is one of only five examples of this type of isolation hospital that survives today.