Brandon, Suffolk
Coordinates: 52°26′51″N 0°37′27″E / 52.4474°N 0.6242°E
| Brandon | |
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 Brandon
Brandon shown within Suffolk |
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| Population | 8,749 (2001 Census) |
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| District | Forest Heath |
| Shire county | Suffolk |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | IP27 0 |
| Dialling code | 01842 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Suffolk | |
Brandon is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is in the Forest Heath local government district.[1] Brandon is located in the Breckland area on the border of Suffolk with the adjoining county of Norfolk. Surrounded by Forestry Commission and agricultural land it is still considered a rural town, although there is an RAF air base on lease to USAF, Lakenheath, just a mile or so away.
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[edit] History
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According to Eilert Ekwall (The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names) the meaning of the name is 'Hill where broom grows'.
From prehistoric times the area was mined for flint as can be seen at Grimes Graves, a popular Brandon tourist destination. Much more recently, the town was a major centre for the production of gunflints.[2]
The Domesday Book records that the manor of Brandon in 1086 had 25 households. In medieval times and beyond Brandon was renowned for its rabbit fur.[3]
On 14 May 1789, the town suffered a Great Fire, a report of which can be found at the Brandon Heritage Centre.[4] While all the young men were away at a fair day in nearby Thetford, a fire caused by a lightning strike set fire to the surgeon's house which quickly spread to the surrounding properties. Eleven houses were damaged and 8 of them were completely destroyed. The hardest hit was Francis Diggon, the saddler, who lost all of his property and possessions, costing a total of 381 pounds, 2 shillings.
[edit] Present day
The town's current population is recorded as 8,749 people in the United Kingdom Census 2001[1] and has three schools; two primary, Forest Academy and Glade Primary School; and one middle school, Breckland Middle School.
On the town's doorstep is the hugely popular High Lodge tourist attraction, that draws in many cyclists and day trip families.
Brandon has a small market every Thursday and Saturday with many little shops and cafes in the town. You can watch over the Market Square and High Street by viewing the Brandon Webcams.
Brandon's population has steadily increased since the Second World War due to immigration. After the war there was an influx of servicemen from Poland who settled in the town and also in nearby Weeting, Norfolk. The Cold War saw many American service people and their families billeted in and around the town. The Greater London Council oversaw the building of a large Council estate off Thetford Road and Bury Road in the 1970s and many London families were relocated to Brandon during that time. Following the relaxation of national borders within the European Community there has been an influx of migrant workers from countries such as Portugal, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.
A new three-story Health Centre, at a cost of £6.5m, is planned just off Bury Road which will house both GP surgeries, library, café, toilets, pharmacy, hall, meeting rooms, midwives, nurses, health visitors and alternative therapists.
[edit] Sport
Brandon has a thriving football junior club for ages 5 years up to under 16. The Brandon Lads and Lasses A.F.C has squads of boys and girls competing in the Ipswich & Suffolk Youth League, South Norfolk Youth League, Mid Norfolk Youth League.
Brandon has a lawn bowls club, Brandon Town Bowling Club, which plays outdoors in the summer. The leisure centre, run by Anglia Community Leisure, also offers badminton, squash, tennis, an indoor 5 a-side hall and an outdoor 6 a-side pitch.
Brandon Fern Hoppers, the local running club meet at the leisure Centre on Tuesdays (7.00pm) & Sundays (9.00am) also meeting on Thursday nights for structured training (6.30pm), at the leisure Centre in summer months and the industrial estate during the winter.The Fern Hoppers also organise the Wibbly Wobbly Log Jog running event held in Thetford Forest (see website www.bfh.org.uk for further details).
[edit] Transport
Brandon is situated on the A1065 Mildenhall to Fakenham road. It often suffers severe congestion due to large amounts of commuter traffic, holiday traffic travelling to the Norfolk Coast and HGVs. Several bus routes and National Express coach services pass through the town as well.
Brandon railway station has an hourly service to Cambridge and Ely to the West and to Thetford and Norwich in the East.[5]
[edit] Other
The town also has Tesco and Aldi Supermarkets.
The town has an eight lane bowling alley, which includes a 200 seater restaurant. Brandon also features a monument to the 7th Armoured Division
There are many places to drink in Brandon, Pubs: The Duke of Wellington, Five Bells, The Flintknappers, The One Bell, The White Horse and The Crown. Clubs: British Legion, Sports & Social Club, Brandon Leisure Centre. Hotels: The Great Eastern, Brandon House and The Ram.
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Brandon, Suffolk |
- ^ a b "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Brandon CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office of National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=799660&c=Brandon&d=16&e=15&g=487529&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1224629846844&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ Clarke, R. (1935), "The Flint-knapping Industry at Brandon", Antiquity, vol. IX
- ^ Brandon history Retrieved 6 August 2012
- ^ [Brandon Heritage Centre
- ^ nationalrail.co.uk
[edit] External links
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