Bradenham, Norfolk
| Bradenham | |
|---|---|
 St Mary's Church, now redundant | |
  Bradenham Location within Norfolk | |
| Area | 16.55 km2 (6.39 sq mi) |
| Population | 695 (2021 census) |
| • Density | 42/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TF 9208 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Thetford |
| Postcode district | IP25 |
| Dialling code | 01362/01760 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Bradenham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is 5 miles (8.0 km) south-west of the town of Dereham and 19 miles (31 km) west of the city of Norwich.[1] The parish was formed of the parishes of East Bradenham and West Bradenham which ave been joined. It includes the hamlets of High Green and West End.[2][3]
History
[edit]In the Domesday Book, Bradenham is recorded as a settlement of 53 households in the hundred of Greenhoe and was part of the estates of William de Warenne, Ralph of Tosny and Ralph Baynard.[4]
West Bradenham Hall was built at some point between the 16th and mid-18th centuries,[2] replacing an earlier building surrounded by a medieval moat. It was owned by the Haggard family and was the birthplace of H. Rider Haggard. Admiral Nelson is recorded as having stayed at the house.[5] East Bradenham Hall, dating form the 17th-century, was rebuilt at around 1800.[6]
During the Second World War, a decoy airfield was built in the village.[7]
Geography
[edit]According to the 2021 census, Bradenham has a population of 695 people which shows a slight decrease from the 700 people recorded in the 2011 census.[8]
The River Wissey rises in the parish and flows to the west, whilst the River Yare rises to the east of Bradenham and flows to the east.
Churches
[edit]West Bradenham's parish church is dedicated to Saint Andrew and located on Church Lane. The church is early medieval in origin and features stained-glass windows depicting the Gospels by the O'Connor Brothers and an east window depicting the Crucifixion of Christ by William Wailes.[9] It is Grade I listed.[10]
St Mary's Church, East Bradenham is dedicated to St Mary. It has been redundant since 1973[3] and is also Grade I listed.[11]
Notable people
[edit]The Haggard family lived at West Bradenham Hall. The author H. Rider Haggard (1856–1925) recorded details of his life at the house.[5]
Governance
[edit]Bradenham is part of the electoral ward of Saham Toney for local elections and is part of the district of Breckland. It is part of the Mid Norfolk parliamentary constituency.
References
[edit]- ^ Ordnance Survey (1999). OS Explorer Map 237 – Norwich. ISBN 0-319-21868-6.
- ^ a b Parish Summary: Bradenham, Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
- ^ a b Knott S (2007) St Mary, East Bradenham, Norfolk Churches Site. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
- ^ "[East and West] Bradenham | Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ a b "mnf8718 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer". www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ Manor House (formerly East Bradenham Hall), Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
- ^ "mnf13552 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer". www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Bradenham (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Norfolk Churches". www.norfolkchurches.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "CHURCH OF ST ANDREW, Bradenham - 1342620 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-12-01. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "CHURCH OF ST MARY, Bradenham - 1151958 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
External links
[edit]
- Map sources for Bradenham, Norfolk
- Information from Genuki Norfolk on East Bradenham and West Bradenham.