BRACKLEY, a parish and borough and market-town, in
the hundred of KING'S-SUTTON, county of NORTHAMPTON,
20 miles (S. W. by S.) from Northampton, and 64
(N.W. by W.) from London, containing 1851 inhabitants.
This place derives its name from the Anglo-Saxon Bracken,
signifying fern, with which the neighbourhood
formerly abounded: it was a Saxon burgh of
considerable importance, but was
greatly injured by the Danes. In the reign of John,
Saher de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, joined the confederate
barons at Stamford, who marched to Brackley,
whence they sent a remonstrance, setting forth their
grievances to the king, who was then at Oxford. In
the reign of Henry III., two splendid tournaments
were held, on a plain called Bayard's Green, near the
town. Edward II., who conferred many privileges
upon Brackley, made it a staple town for wool; ana,
in the reign of Edward III., having become famous tor
its trade, it sent three representatives, as " Merchants
Staplers," to a grand council held at Westminster, in
the reign of Henry VIII., the plague raging violently at
Oxford, the fellows and scholars of Magdalene College;
removed to this town, and resided in an hospital founaed
by Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester, about tfie
middle of the twelfth century, of which there are considerable
remains, the chapel, with abroad low tower,
on the north-west side, being still entire. The town is
on the border of Buckinghamshire, and is situated on
the declivity of a hill, near a branch of the river Ouse,
which has its source in the immediate vicinity:- it is divided
into two portions, New Brackley and Old Bracldey;
the latter, which is the smaller division, is without the
limits of the borough. The principal street, nearly a
mile in length, extends from the bridge up the acclivity
of the hill; and contains many good houses, which are
mostly built of stone: there is an abundant supply of
water. The inhabitants are chiefly occupied in the
making of bobbin lace, and boots and shoes. The market
is on Wednesday: the fairs, principally for horses,
horned cattle, and sheep, are on the Wednesday after
February 25th, the second Wednesday in April, the
Wednesday after June 22nd, the Wednesday after October
llth (a statute fair), and December llth, which is a
great fair for cattle and wearing apparel. The government,
by charter of incorporation confirmed and extended
in the seventh of Edward II., is vested in a
mayor, six aldermen, and twenty-six burgesses: the
mayor is appointed by the lord of the manor, and sworn
into office at his annual court leet, which is also a court
baron and port-mote, on the Monday after September
29th, when two constables, two thirdboronghs, and other
officers, are also chosen. The aldermen are selected
from among the burgesses, the mayor and the lord of
the manor each nominating one candidate, whose election
is decided by a majority of the rest: the burgesses
are chosen from householders residing in New Brackley
only, by the whole body, as vacancies occur. The corporation
have power to hold a court of record for the
recovery of debts under £20, but do not exercise it;
and the mayor is not vested with magisterial authority,
the town being wholly within the jurisdiction of the
county magistrates. The elective franchise was con-'
ferred in the first of Edward VI., since which time the
borough has returned two members to parliament: the
right of election is vested in the mayor, aldermen, and
burgesses, in number thirty-three, who are principally
in the interest of the Marquis of Stafford: the mayor
is the returning officer. The town-hall, a handsome
building in the centre of the town, supported on
arches, under which the market is held, was erected in
1706, by Scroop, Duke of Bridgewater, at an expense
of £2000.
Brackley comprises the parishes of St. Peter and St.
James, which, though ecclesiastically united, are distinct
as regards civil affairs. The living is a consolidated
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northampton, and
diocese of Peterborough, rated in the king's books at
£ 19. 1. 6., and in the patronage of the Marquis of Stafford.
The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient
building, with a low embattled tower; it contains a
Norman font of curious design. St. James', formerly
a parochial church, is now a chapel of ease to the
vicarage of St. Peter. Mr.Welchman bequeathed £10
per annum to the minister, for performing evening
service in the chapel every alternate Sunday. There
is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. The
free grammar school was founded, about the year 1447,
by William of Wainfleet, who endowed it with £ 13. 6.8.
per annum, for ten boys of the parishes of St. Peter
and St. James, which sum is paid by the President and
Fellows of Magdalene College, Oxford, to whom the
site of the ancient hospital was granted at the time of
its dissolution: there is a house for the master, who
has a salary of £18 per annum, and the profits of
some land attached to the school. A National school
for boys was established, and is supported, by subscription.
Almshouses for six aged widows were founded
by Sir Thomas Crewe, in 1633, and endowed with a rent
charge of £24, which was increased in 1721, by his
descendant, Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham,
with an additional rent-charge of £12. The site of a
castle, built by one of the Norman barons, is still called
the Castle hill. Samuel Clarke, an eminent orientalist,
and one of the coadjutors of Walton in publishing the
Polyglott Bible, was born here, in 1623.