BRANDON, a market-town and parish in the hundred
of LACKFORD, county of SUFFOLK, 40 miles (N. W.)
from Ipswich, and 78 (N. N. E.) from London, containing
1770 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, with the
vicarage of Wangford annexed, in the archdeaconry of
Sudbury, and diocese of Norwich, rated in the king's
books at £20. 18. if., and in the patronage of the Representatives
of the late Admiral Wilson. The church
is dedicated to St. Peter. There is a place of worship
for Wesleyan Methodists. The town lies on the southern
bank of the Little Ouse, or Brandon river, which forms
the northern boundary of the county, and is here crossed
by a neat stone bridge, about a mile from which goods
are laden and unladen for conveyance, by means of that
river, to and from the isle of Ely. Imbedded in a stratum
of chalk, a mile westward from the town, lie continuous
strata of the finest flint, of which gun-flints are made
here in abundance, and conveyed to various parts of the
kingdom: on the hills, within one hundred feet from the
surface, are seven different strata of flint, separated by
as many layers of pipe-clay. In addition to the trade in
gun-flints there is considerable traffic in corn, malt, coal,
timber, iron, bricks, tiles, &c.; and there are some extensive
rabbit-warrens in the neighbourhood, that contribute
to the supply of London. The market is held on
Thursday; and there are fairs on February 14th, June
11th, and November 11th. A rent-charge of £ 30, given
by Robert Wright, is applied to the instruction of
children belonging to Brandon, Downham, Wangford,
and Weeting; and a fund of £ 13 per annum was
bequeathed, in 1664, by Joanna, widow of John Wright,
for keeping the school-room in repair, and for the relief
of the poor of Brandon, Downham, and Wangford.
Brandon Camp, a square earthwork guarded by a single
trench and a rampart, is supposed to have been the
Bravinium of the Romans, and to have been occupied
by Ostorius Scapula previously to the decisive victory
which he obtained over the brave Caractacus. The
Duke of Hamilton and Brandon takes his English title
from this place.