Probably the most disliked person in Dover's long history was Odo Bishop of Bayeux he was both greedy and ruthless in his quest for power. He not only brought the town of Dover to near destruction but also terrorized the County of Kent as well. At the time of the Norman Conquest (1066) Dover was now the busiest port in Britain with regular packet ships traveling over to France. Odo not only destroyed that but also plundered the landowners of Kent amassing a huge fortune in gold and treasure which he hid for the time when he would realize his ambition to be king of England, he eradicated all Saxon land owners from his Earldom.

In Dover he confiscated homes and the Old Guildhall from the king himself giving them to his friends and family. With complete disregard for the town of Dover and it's people he allowed one of his tenants to erect a mill at the entrance to Dover harbour, it's effect on shipping was disastrous.

This mill is noted in the Doomsday Book:

"At the entrance to Dover Harbour is a mill, which wrecks almost all ships, through its great disturbance of the sea; it does very great harm to the King and his men; it was not there before 1066. Of this, Herbert's nephew says that the Bishop of Bayeux gave permission for it to be made by his uncle, Herbert son of Ivo"

For 13 years Odo ruled Kent mercilessly from his base in Dover. He was exiled for his attempts to seek the help of English Knights to help him depose the Pope.

Odo died in France in 1097.