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In April 1735 the will of one Henry Lindow made provision 'towards educating and bringing up at school the poor children belonging to Egton-cum-Newland with books, school wages, boarding, or clothing and clogs'. The sum provided for this was £138, a considerable sum in those days.
Like the church, the increasing population of the villages of Greenodd and Penny Bridge had created the need for a school specifically for the area. So, during the years 1780-81 a school-house was built 'upon ye common of pasture called Arrad', today known as Sandhills.
The actual cost of the building was met by voluntary contributions from the inhabitants of the villages and the Squire William Penny offered £5 a year to the Schoolmaster. The last master of the school incidentally was a William Hartley who apparently combined his school duties with those of being a tinker,umbrella-maker, and musical instrument repairer.
During this period the building seen today as Sodhouse Farm was actually a Higher Grade School, the teacher being the incumbent of St Mary's...the Rev James Burn.
Originally the villages of Greenodd and Penny bridge obtained their spiritual support from Ulverston's parish church as it was the nearest. In the early 1700s however it was decided that besides the school, it was obvious that a chapel of their own was also needed. Fortunately this need was met (again) by the Squire William Penny (of Penny Bridge Hall)..Lord of the Manor of Dunnerdale and Seathwaite. The chapel was built at a cost of £733. two shillings and eleven pence, though part of this money was reclaimed by the selling of pews for approximately £2 each.
In the Kendal Weekly Mercury dated Saturday May 3rd 1735 the following....'died, James Wilson aged 100 years.Four years earlier Timothy Coward died aged 114 years and still living...Roger Friars aged 103 and in perfect health'.
Greenodd, until 100 years or so ago, thrived on shipbuiling. In 1848, the 68 foot schooner Margaret was built here by Richard Ashburner. The first master and part-owner was Capt. Michael Bond of Ulverston. The vessel was registered at Lancaster. The Margaret was part of the fleet of Harrison, Ainslie & Co. in which Richard Roper was a manager.
The ship was wrecked 12 years later on 4th November 1860 at the south end of Ramsey Island on the Pembrokeshire coast.
Although not one remnant of this industry now remains, the two inns in the village, The Ship and the Machells Arms are a reminder of the village's shipbuilding past.
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