BLETSOE, a parish in the hundred of WILLEY,
county of BEDFORD, 6 miles (N.N.W.) from Bedford,
containing 383 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in
the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln,
rated in the king's books at £ 17, and in the patronage
of Lord St. John. The church is dedicated to St. Mary.
The river Ouse runs through the parish, in which are
the remains of an ancient castle, formerly belonging to
Lord Bolingbroke, part of which has been destroyed for
the materials. Here is a mineral spring, but the water
is seldom used medicinally.