BRADNINCH, a parish (formerly a borough and market-town),
having separate jurisdiction, locally in the hundred of Hayridge,
county of DEVON, 8 miles (N. E.) from Exeter, and 170 (W.)
from London, containing 1511 inhabitants. This place, anciently
called Braineis, was of some importance in the time of
the Saxons: in the reign of John it received many privileges, which were
creased by Henry III., and in the reign of Edward III.
it was annexed to the duchy of Cornwall. In this and m
the preceding reign it sent representatives to parliament^
from which, on account of its poverty, it was excused
in the reign of Henry VII., on the payment of a fine
of five marks. During the civil war in the reign w
Charles I. it suffered considerably, from its
to Exeter, and was alternately in the possession
royalists and the parliamentarians. In the year 1665,
the town was almost destroyed by fire. It is pleasantly
situated on an eminence, environed by hills on all sides
except the south and south-west, and consists principally
of neatly thatched and white-washed cottages. The
woollen trade was formerly carried on, but little now
remains; the principal branch of manufacture at present
is that of paper, for which there are three mills,
affording employment to sixty or seventy of the inhabitants.
Iron-ore has been found in the neighbourhood,
but works have not yet been established. The
market has been discontinued; but small fairs are held
on May 6th and October 2nd. The government, by
charter of incorporation granted by Reginald, Earl of
Cornwall, and renewed and enlarged by James I. and II.,
is vested in a mayor, recorder, twelve masters, and
twenty-four inferior burgesses, assisted by a townclerk,
two Serjeants at mace, a high constable, and
four inferior constables. The mayor is chosen, on St.
Thomas' day, by the corporation at large, from among
the twelve masters, who nominate two of their own
body to that office; the mayor, the late mayor, and the
recorder, are justices of the peace for the borough. The
corporation hold a court of session quarterly: the mayor's
court, for the recovery of debts under 40s., is held
monthly; and courts leet and baron for the duchy are
also held here. The guildhall is a small building, possessing
no claim to architectural notice. The living is
a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese of
Exeter, endowed with £300, and a messuage worth
£400, private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and
£1300 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of
the Dean and Canons of Windsor. The church, dedicated
to St. Disen, is an ancient structure, with a
tower and other portions of later date; the chaneel
is separated from the nave by a richly carved oak
screen. There is a place of worship for Particular
Baptists. Bradninch gives the title of baron to
the dukes of Cornwall, who are styled Barons of
Braines.