"Oddingly to TIbberton - Friday, July 26, 2002" Tibberton Travelogue by grandmaR

After we passed Dunhampstead for the second time, we went past Oddingley with its ancient half-timbered manor house and tiny church and several murders to its credit. The Firs Inn headlines these murders in its advertising board by the side of the canal.

Manor house between grandson and son-in-law

The story about Oddingly goes that the new minister at the church (some years ago) was going to require increased tithes, and had built a large building to keep the tithes in. Several of the farmers did not wish to tithe, and two of them hired a man to murder the minister.

Fields near Oddingly

When one of the farmers would not pay the hit man, he murdered the farmer also, and then escaped into the woods. His skeleton was discovered many years later - so much later that the other farmer in the plot (presumed to have murdered him), had also died by this time.

Public moorings with boat and swans

We tied up at the free public moorings below the bridge and went up to eat dinner there at a pub.

Mute Swan

We actually had a choice of two pubs. We ate outside overlooking the canal. We've gone a distance of perhaps 7 miles in all.

Swan with adolescent cynets

Several swans came up to the boat, perhaps expecting a handout.

Aggressive mute swan

This swan came up to the boat and hissed threateningly at us. Whether she was angry at not getting something to eat, or upset that we were too close to her babies, I don't know.

Adolescent cynet

After we ate, we had a peaceful night. There is a heater, but we didn't need it. Our grandson didn't want to sleep in the single, and the large bed in the bow was very large, so the three of them slept there together.

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