French Prisoners of War at Odiham
Odiham operated as a parole depot for French prisoners of war from 1803-1812 during the Napoleonic Wars. The 22 houses occupied by French prisoners mentioned in the 1811 Parish Baptism Register represent a substantial presence in the community.
Parole System
Higher-ranking French officers were offered parole – giving their written word of honour not to escape – and were billeted with local inhabitants or rented entire houses themselves. Many brought their families, making Odiham home to French wives and children as well. Officers had prescribed parole limits, famously marked by the “Frenchman’s Oak” on London Road, which denoted the boundary they could not cross.
Security Concerns
From 1810 onwards, the British government became increasingly worried about the concentration of French prisoners in southern England, particularly after General Edouard Simon’s conspiracy suggesting French raids could liberate prisoners at Plymouth and Dartmoor. The lack of prisoner exchanges between Britain and France meant captivity dragged on for years, leading to more escape attempts.
Local Impact
The presence of these prisoners significantly affected Odiham’s economy and social fabric – they required housing, provisions, and generated income for landlords. Two French prisoners who died in captivity are buried at All Saints Church, with one gravestone bearing the poignant inscription: “He was a prisoner of war; Death hath set him free”.
Frenchman’s Oak Tree
According to this Facebook Post the tree fell to the ground during a storm in 2024. It was located on the west side of London Road.