Brandon, Suffolk

File:Flint cottages in Thetford Road, Brandon - geograph.org.uk - 2729030.jpg

Brandon, likely "hill where broom grows", has been variously referred to as Brandona, Braundon, Brandones Ferye, Brandon Ferry, Brand, and Bromdum throughout history.{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|last=Mills|first=David|year=2011|url={{Google Books|tXucAQAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}}|page=72|publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=9780199609086}} The earliest known spelling was in the 11th century when the town, gradually expanding up and along the rising ground of the river valley, was called Bromdun.{{cite web|url=http://www.brandonsuffolk.com/history-of-brandon-suffolk.asp|title=Brief History of Brandon in Suffolk|publisher=Brandon Heritage Centre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705132644/http://www.brandonsuffolk.com/history-of-brandon-suffolk.asp|archive-date=2009-07-05}} The town was originally developed as a crossing point for the Little Ouse River.

From prehistoric times the area was mined for flint as can be seen at Grime's Graves, a Neolithic flint mining complex. At Staunch Meadow in the 1980s, archaeologists uncovered a Middle Saxon settlement thought to have been active from the mid 7th century to the late 9th century. At least thirty-five buildings were excavated.{{cite book|url=https://eaareports.org.uk/publication/report151/|title=Staunch Meadow, Brandon, Suffolk: a High Status Middle Saxon Settlement on the Fen Edge|last1=Tester|first1=Andrew|last2=Anderson|first2=Sue|last3=Riddle|first3=Ian|last4=Carr|first4=Robert|date=2014|isbn=978-0-9568747-4-0|publisher=Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service|series=East Anglian Archaeology|number=151|pages=xii, 9, 11}} In the Middle Ages, the town had a major rabbit fur industry,{{cite web|url=http://www.brandon.suffolk.gov.uk/Brandon_History.html|title=Brandon history|publisher=Brandon, Suffolk|last=Pocock|first=David|access-date=2012-08-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216173953/http://www.brandon.suffolk.gov.uk/Brandon_History.html |archive-date=2009-12-16}} which thrived until the 1950s.{{cite web|url=https://www.brandontc.org.uk/community/brandon-town-council-20066/history/|title=History|publisher=Brandon Town Council|access-date=2024-04-02}} Brandon was still a major centre for the production of gunflints by the Napoleonic Wars.{{cite journal|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/abs/flintknapping-industry-at-brandon/B57A187240B97CD4144D931797B8A51C|title=The Flint-knapping Industry at Brandon|last=Clarke|first=Rainbird|date=March 1935|journal=Antiquity|volume=9|issue=33|pages=38–56 |doi=10.1017/S0003598X00009959|url-access=subscription}}{{page needed|date=April 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.brandonheritage.org.uk/inside-the-centre/flint/|title=Inside the Centre|publisher=Brandon Heritage Centre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516175753/http://www.brandonheritage.org.uk/inside-the-centre/flint/|archive-date=2018-05-16}}

File:Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. CH12680.jpg during a briefing at RAF Lakenheath during the Second World War]]

Brandon's Great Fire occurred on 14 May 1789.{{cite web|url=https://melindaappleby.co.uk/brandon-in-fire-flint/|title=Brandon in Fire & Flint|last=Appleby|first=Melinda|date=2017-09-23|publisher=Melinda Appleby|access-date=2024-04-02}}{{cite web|url=http://www.brandonsuffolk.com/brandon-heritage-centre.asp|title=Homepage|publisher=Brandon Heritage Centre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828052602/http://www.brandonsuffolk.com/brandon-heritage-centre.asp |archive-date=August 28, 2009 }}{{nonspecific|date=April 2024}} A fire started at the surgeon's home from either a lightning strike{{cn|date=April 2024}} or by hot ash embers being blown onto the thatched roof of a wooden shed by the wind. It quickly spread to the surrounding properties,{{cn|date=April 2024}} in part due to the absence of enough able-bodied young men to contain the fire, as many were at a fair day in nearby Thetford.{{cite book|title=East Anglian Disasters|last=Goulden|first=Glenda|url={{Google Books|x_vLDwAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}}|date=2010-10-31|publisher=Casemate Publishers|isbn=9781783032594|page=}} Eleven houses were damaged and 8 of them were completely destroyed.{{cn|date=April 2024}} The hardest hit was Francis Diggon, the saddler, who lost all of his property and possessions, costing a total of 381 pounds, 2 shillings.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

During both world wars, the Brecks, including Brandon, Thetford, and Elveden, were used as military training grounds, in part due to the easy access from London via rail. Under the Polish Resettlement Act of 1947, displaced Polish men who fought for the Allies and their families were permitted to live in resettlement camps, where they were given industry training. Once finished, many of these families permanently settled in the Brecks area.{{cite report|url=http://www.breakingnewground.org.uk/assets/Uploads/Mil-Hist-Report/BRECSOCMILREP.pdf|title=The Military History of the Brecks 1900-1949|publisher=The Breckland Society|year=2016|last1=Goulding|first1=Peter|last2=Parry|first2=James|editor-last1=Dittner|editor-first1=Liz|pages=13, 29, 43, 44}} The US Army Air Force's 3rd Air Division set up a makeshift base, Camp Blainey, in Brandon for the duration of World War II.{{cite web|url=https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/place/elveden-hall|title=Elveden Hall|publisher=American Air Museum|access-date=2024-04-02}} Some Polish families displaced during the war chose to remain in Brandon and surrounding areas, where they had been living in displacement camps, when they found they were unable to return home.{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21173298.polish-memorial-unveiled-brandon-honour-suffered-second-world-war/|title=Polish memorial unveiled in Brandon to honour those who suffered during Second World War|date=2017-09-24|publisher=Eastern Daily Press|last=Begbie|first=Lucy|access-date=2024-04-02}} In 1968, the Greater London Council began developing public housing in Brandon, resulting in further expansion of the town. Brandon is adjacent to RAF Lakenheath, a Royal Air Force station in use since World War I.{{cite web|url=http://lakenheath.onesuffolk.net/lakenheath-heritage/time-line/part-5-1900-1939ad/|title=Timeline Part 5|publisher=Lakenheath Heritage|access-date=25 November 2021}} American families also lived in and around the town during the Cold War.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

File:Brandon town sign.jpg

File:Woodland, Brandon Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 5519391.jpg]]

The Domesday Book records that the Manor of Brandon in 1086 had 25 households; by 1251, the population had increased to 39 households. As of the 2021 census, there was a population of 9,225 people, up from 9,145 in 2011 and 8,256 in 2001. The median age in 2021 was 44.{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/suffolk/E63002909__brandon/|title=Brandon in Suffolk (East of England)|date=2023-08-04|publisher=CityPopulation.de|access-date=2024-04-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/datasets/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwalescensus2021|title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021|date=2023-08-02|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=2024-04-02}}

Brandon Town Community FC has squads for community members ages five and up. The squads regularly compete in more than four leagues, including Ipswich & Suffolk Youth League, Norfolk Youth Combine League, Norfolk Women's, and Norfolk Youth Combined U15.{{cite web|url=https://www.brandontownfc.co.uk/|title=Homepage|publisher=Brandon Town Community FC|access-date=2024-04-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.brandontc.org.uk/community/brandon-town-council-20066/clubs-in-brandon/|title=Clubs in Brandon|publisher=Brandon Town Council|access-date=2024-04-02}} The town football squad was previously the Brandon Lads and Lasses AFC.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2007/01/03/brandon_lasses_feature.shtml|title="Anyone can play football!"|last=Turner|first=Kieran|date=2007-03-01|publisher=BBC|access-date=2024-04-02}} Brandon also has a lawn bowls club, Brandon Town Bowling Club, which was founded in 1949 and plays outdoors in the summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.lawnbowlingshoes.co.uk/resources/lawn-bowling-clubs/brandon-town-bowling-club-ip27-0jb/|title=Brandon Town Bowling Club - IP27 0JB|date=23 July 2018 |publisher=BoatShoesUK|access-date=2024-04-02}}

The town is home to Brandon Country Park{{cite web|url=https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/brandon-country-park/|title=Brandon Country Park|publisher=Woodland Trust|access-date=2024-04-02}} and is a short distance from High Lodge which hosts musical gigs in the summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.visiteastofengland.com/attraction_activity/high-lodge-forest-centre|title=High Lodge Forest Centre|publisher=Visit East of England|access-date=2024-04-02}} In 2014 the volunteer group Brandon in Bloom, later Brandon in Bloom CIC, was established to green up the open spaces around the town.{{cn|date=April 2024}} In 2018 the group entered Anglia in Bloom for the first time and was awarded Silver Gilt and Best Newcomer, followed by Gold in 2019. Bloom judging ceased during the lockdown period and upon restarting in 2022 Brandon managed Gold and Best in Class for the Jubilee Display, Gold for Best Garden for special needs with their Friendly Bench and George St Rose garden; and Best Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/news/green-fingered-group-to-show-uk-after-britain-in-bloom-sho-9299031/|title=Brandon in Bloom 'to show the rest of the UK' after becoming finalist in Britain in Bloom competition|last=Hurst|first=Kevin|date=2023-02-14|publisher=Suffolk News|access-date=2024-04-02}} In 2023, they won seven accolades and were chosen to represent Anglia in Britain in Bloom in the town category, for which they won Gold.{{cite web|url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/news/town-scoops-six-golds-at-anglia-in-bloom-awards-9331469/|title=Brandon in Bloom take six golds and a silver at Anglia in Bloom awards|last=Hurst|first=Kevin|date=2023-09-21|publisher=Suffolk News|access-date=2024-04-02}}

In 1810 resident Joseph Smedley was hiring a building for use as a theatre at a cost of five Guineas.{{cite book|title= Treading the Boards : Actors and theatres in Georgian Lincolnshire |author= Neil R Wright|publisher= SLHA|year= 2016|page= 69}} Brandon's first permanent cinema was brought to the town by Stanley Lingwood in 1917 after he was pensioned out of the Army due to a severe hand wound sustained at the Somme. He purchased the cinema from Shropshire and erected it between the family home, Avenue House, and the Church Institute, along Victoria Avenue. It was a wooden building, which he called the Electric Palace,{{cite web|url=https://brandonatwar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/July-1918.pdf|title=July 1918...|last=Norton|first=Darren|date=October 2022|publisher=Brandon At War|access-date=2024-04-02}} and it stayed in his possession until December 1933. At that time, he sold it to a King's Lynn businessman{{cn|date=April 2024}} named Ben Culey, who had a cinema in neighbouring Thetford. Six months after Culey purchased the cinema it burnt to the ground. In February 1935 he opened another cinema on the site, which he named AVENUE. This new cinema was state of the art with the very latest projector, sound and acoustics.{{cite web|url=https://www.brandontc.org.uk/shared/attachments.asp?f=ba200203%2D111d%2D421f%2D8f6a%2D31f8146249ef%2Epdf&o=1935%2D%2D%2DAvenue%2DCinema%2Epdf|title=A short history of Brandon and... the 'AVENUE' cinema|publisher=Brandon Town Council|access-date=2024-04-02|date=March 2002}} It proved very popular during the Second World War.{{cn|date=February 2024}} He sold the theatre to Breckland Cinemas Ltd. in 1965 and by 1966 the building was half-cinema, half-bingo hall. The building became vacant in 2007 and was demolished in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27169|title=Avenue Cinema|publisher=Cinema Treasures|access-date=2024-04-02}}{{cite web|url=https://bingodaily.co.uk/news/brandon-bingo-hall-finally-set-for-demolition/802/|title=Brandon Bingo Hall Finally Set For Demolition|date=2019-09-16|publisher=Bingo Daily|access-date=2024-04-02}}

File:St Peter, Brandon - geograph.org.uk - 4767485.jpg

As of 2024, Brandon has four schools: three primary, Forest Academy, Glade Academy, and Weeting Church of England Primary School; and one High School, Breckland School. There is also a children's centre, Brandon Family Hub, run by the Suffolk County Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Search?SelectedTab=Establishments&SearchType=Location&SearchType=Location&LocationSearchModel.Text=Brandon%2c+Suffolk&LocationSearchModel.AutoSuggestValue=52.44905090332031%2c+0.6234999895095825&OpenOnly=true&b=1&b=4|title=Establishments matching "Brandon"|publisher=Get Information about Schools, British government|access-date=2024-04-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/family-hubs/health-and-childrens-centre-contact-details|title=Get in touch with Family Hubs|publisher=Suffolk County Council|access-date=2024-04-02}}

There are six churches in Brandon: Ascension Church, Brandon Church of Christ, Brandon Baptist Church, Brandon Methodist Church, Church of St Peter and St Thomas of Canterbury.{{cite web|url=https://www.findachurch.co.uk/Search.aspx?address=Brandon+(Suffolk)|title=Brandon (Suffolk)|publisher=Find a Church|access-date=2024-04-02}} The Church of St Peter is a Grade I listed building of medieval origin and was restored in 1873.{{NHLE |desc=CHURCH OF ST PETER, Brandon |num=1037592 |access-date=24 June 2022 }}

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC East and ITV Anglia. Television signals are received from either the Tacolneston or Sandy Heath TV transmitters.{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Tacolneston|title= Full Freeview on the Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=22 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sandy_Heath|title=Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=22 December 2023}} It is also possible to receive reception from the Belmont TV transmitter which broadcasts BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Belmont|title=Belmont (Lincolnshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=22 December 2023}}

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Suffolk,{{cite web|url=https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/results.action?ipsvmore=Communication&communitychannel=0&adultchannel=5|title=Leisure - Communication|publisher=InfoLink, Suffolk|access-date=2024-04-02}} Heart East, Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk & North Suffolk,{{cn|date=April 2024}} and RWSfm, a community-based station which broadcast from Bury St Edmunds.{{Cite web |url=https://rwsfm.co.uk/ |title=RWSfm|access-date=22 December 2023}}{{nonspecific|date=April 2024}}

The town is served by the local newspaper, The Thetford and Brandon Times, which publishes on Wednesdays. {{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/thetford-brandon-times/|title=The Thetford and Brandon Times|date=22 November 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=22 December 2023}}

File:Brandon railway station - the footbridge - geograph.org.uk - 1516141.jpg

Brandon is situated on the A1065 Mildenhall to Fakenham road and serves as the main route between King's Lynn and London.County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, Page 227 &231 {{ISBN|978-1-84348-614-5}} It often suffers severe congestion{{cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21781529.brandon-bypass-plan-action-call/|title=Brandon: Bypass plan action call|last=Cawley|first=Laurence|date=2010-12-26|publisher=Eat Anglian Times|access-date=2024-04-02}} due to large amounts of commuter traffic, holiday traffic travelling to the Norfolk Coast and{{cn|date=April 2024}} HGVs.{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20721790.a11-dualling-made-lives-misery/|title=A11 dualling has 'made our lives a misery'|date=2019-06-13|publisher=Eastern Daily Press|last=Papworth|first=Andrew|access-date=2024-04-02}} Several bus routes pass through the town as well. Regular bus services operate from Brandon to the neighbouring towns of Bury St. Edmunds, Mildenhall and Thetford. There are also infrequent services (at school and shopping times) to Downham Market, King's Lynn and Norwich.{{cite web|url=https://bustimes.org/localities/brandon-suffolk|title=Brandon, Suffolk|publisher=bustimes.org|access-date=2024-04-02}}{{cite web|url=https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/bndOnwardTravelMap/271c9fa5f9b106b000984472792e1218/Brandon__BND__OTI.pdf|title=Brandon Station Onward Travel Information|publisher=National Rail|access-date=2024-04-02}}

{{As of|2023|February}} there is typically one train per hour to {{rws|Norwich}} and one to {{rws|Stansted Airport}} via {{rws|Cambridge}}, operated by Greater Anglia.{{cite web|url= https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/media/document/document/2022-11/GA2212%20TT10%20V2.pdf|title=Train timetable Valid from 11 December 2022 Cambridge to Ely, Peterborough and Norwich|work=Greater Anglia|date=11 December 2022|access-date=16 February 2023}} Brandon railway station has an hourly service to Cambridge and Ely to the West and to Thetford and Norwich in the East.{{cite web|url=https://nationalrail.co.uk|title=Homepage|publisher=National Rail}}{{nonspecific|date=April 2024}}

Flowing in a westerly direction, the Little Ouse river is navigable through the town.{{cite web|url=http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/river.php?wpage=LO|title=Little Ouse or Brandon River|publisher=Jim Shead|access-date=2014-07-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302144306/http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/river.php?wpage=LO|archive-date=2012-03-02}}

{{See also|Category:People from Brandon, Suffolk}}

• Charles Crawley (1908–1935), cricketer
• Margaret Gentle Harwood (c 1925–2004), educator
• Derek Harrison (born 1959), speedway rider
• Adam Marriott (born 1991), footballer
• Natasha Preston (born 1988), novelist
• Rodney Rought-Rought (1908–1979), cricketer

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Brandon, Suffolk|Brandon}}

{{EB1911 poster|Brandon (Suffolk)}}

• {{Official website|http://www.brandonsuffolk.com}}

{{West Suffolk|state=expanded}}

{{Suffolk}}

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Category:Towns in Suffolk

Category:Civil parishes in Suffolk

Category:Forest Heath