BRADING, a parish (formerly a market-town) in the liberty of EAST-MEDINA, Isle of Wight division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 7 miles (E. by S.) from Newport, and 95 (S.W.) from London, containing 2023 inhabitants. This place, formerly of considerable importance, as appears from its being styled "the King's town of Brading" in the legend of its common seal, probably received name from the haven, at the upper end of which it is situated. Brading haven, a tract of marshy ground, nearly nine hundred acres in extent, is covered by the sea at every tide; so that at high water small vessels can approach the town, for unloading which a quay has been constructed. Repeated attempts have been made to exclude the sea by an embankment, and Sir Hugh Middleton, the projector of the New River, had nearly effected this, when, during a wet season, the works, which had been raised at an expense of £7000, were completely destroyed by a spring tide. The town consists principally of one long street, the houses in which are irregularly built; the inhabitants are plentifully supplied with water from public wells. Fairs are held on May 1st and September 21st. The government, by charter of incorporation granted prior to the reign of Edward VI., is vested in a senior and a junior bailiff, a recorder, and thirteen jurats, assisted by a town-clerk, who is also steward: the bailiffs are appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor. The town-hall is a very small building; the lower part is used as a prison and for the market. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's books at £20, and in the patronage of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is one of the most ancient in the kingdom, being said to have been built in 704, by Wilfrid, Bishop of Chichester, who here baptized his first converts to Christianity: it is a spacious structure, with a tower, and some remains of Saxon architecture are preserved in the nave, though it has undergone many alterations in other parts; at the extremity of each aisle there is a small chapel. A chapel has been recently built at Bembridge, a hamlet in this parish: the living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Brading. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A National school, in which about sixty children are instructed, is supported by subscription. Knight's charity supplies seven poor men annually with a suit of clothes each. In this parish is Sandown fort, a regular quadrangular fortification, flanked by four bastions, and encompassed by a ditch: it was constructed in the reign of Henry VIII., on a level with the beach, and, having been greatly neglected after the rise of the English Navy, was repaired during the late war, and is now the most considerable fortress in the island. In the American -war the garrison sustained attacks from several privateers, and drove them off.