Post Office Directory of 1865.
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BRANDON is a parish, railway station, and market town, in Lackford
hundred, Thetford union, Fordham rural deanery, Sudbury archdeaconry, and
diocese of Ely, West Suffolk, 88 � miles north-east from London, 6 west from
Thetford, and 9 north-east from Mildenhall. It is on the Little Ouse river,
which here divides the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and over which is a
bridge. The church of St. Peter, situated a quarter of a mile west of the town,
is an ancient square structure, built of flint and stone, with a low leaden
roof: it consists of nave, side aisles, and chancel, with a Norman porch, and
tower containing 5 bells: the chancel end is ornamented with two cupolas (one at
each side); they are composed of brickwork, 12 feet high from the roof. The
living is a rectory, with that of Wangford annexed, joint annual value �800,
with residence, in the gift of T. E. Cartwright, Esq., and held by the Rev.
Samuel Warren. The Dukes of Suffolk took their names from this place, and it now
gives the title of duke to the Hamilton family. Gunflints are still made here;
during the war, and before percussion caps were introduced this trade was the
chief dependence of the working classes here. The description of flint obtained
from the beds of Brandon, below the chalk stratum, is superior to any other,
being more certain in its fire and lasting longer than any other. The masses of
flint from which the gunflints are made are obtained from a common about a mile
south-east of Brandon. The chalk is within 6 feet of the surface. The men sink a
shaft 6 feet, and then proceed about 3 feet horizontally, and then sink another
shaft lower in the chalk, about 6 feet, and sometimes they fall in with a floor
of rich flint at this depth; if not, they work again 3 feet horizontally, and
sink another shaft 6 feet, and so they progress, perhaps, for 30 feet, when
generally they meet with 3 or 4 floors of flint, at every floor of which they
excavate horizontally several yards. It is found in huge blocks, like septaria,
which the men break into pieces sufficiently portable to hand from stage to
stage, and a man being placed at each stage so formed, the flint is passed from
hand to hand until it reaches the surface ; it is then cut and worked with great
skill into its required form. The abundance of rabbits found at Lakenheath and
other neighbouring warrens is a source of great employment to the furriers, and
a considerable number of males and females are employed. There are whiting
mills, which give employment to many hands, and an extensive steam saw mill,
worked by Messrs. G. Wood and Sons. There is a Wesleyan chapel; also a Primitive
Methodist chapel, and a small chapel for the General Baptists, and the Latter
Day Saints have also a chapel here: the chapels, like the cottages in this
locality, are principally built with flint. Adjoining the church is the National
school, erected in 1843, on the site of the old workhouse. At this spot are
three almshouses, rebuilt at the expense of the parish in 1840; they were
bequeathed by Mrs. Ann Curtis in 1075. There are five other almshouses in the
High-street, appropriated to poor widows of this parish. A Free Grammar school
was endowed in 1640 by Robert Wright, of Downham Hall, for teaching Latin and
Greek; but by an arrangement of the trustees, 40 children, sons of the poor
tradesmen of Brandon, Weeting, Downham, and Wangford, are instructed in the
ordinary branches of an English education. Friday was originally the market day,
but it has for years been altered to Thursday. The corn market is held in a room
devoted to that purpose at the Ram inn. The fairs for cattle and toys are held
February 14th, June 11th, and November 11th. There is a considerable trade
carried on in corn, malt, bricks, and timber, which are conveyed by the railway,
there being a large station close to the town, and which has very considerably
improved the trade here, and several barges ply hence to and from Lynn, with
corn and coal; the streets are yet unlighted. Brandon Park, close to the town,
is a beautiful estate, occupied by Henry Aldridge Bliss, Esq., lord of the
manor. Half a mile west of the town is Brandon Hall, an ancient mansion, the
residence of Robert Home, esq. A little south of the park is North Court Lodge,
the estate of Henry Brook, Esq., prettily situated in a wood of fir trees.
Brandon House, the residence of the Rev. William Weller Poley, M.A., J.P., is a
handsome brick building, situated on the Norfolk side of the river. There are
also several other neat villa residences. There are several comfortable inns;
and a sub-branch of Harveys' and Hudsons' Norwich Bank, open every Thursday
only. The railway communicates with Norwich, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Lynn, Ely,
Cambridge, Hertford, and London. The population in 1861 was 2,218, and the area
is 6,759 acres.
Parish Clerk, Charles Farrow.
POST & MONEY ORDER OFFICE & POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK. � Fuller Rolfe,
postmaster, High street. Letters from London arrive at 1.10 a.m. & 2.15 p.m.;
dispatched to London at 12 noon & 10 p.m. Letters are delivered at 7 a.m
INSURANCE AGENTS:�
Liverpool & London Sc Globe, H. R. Maynard, High street
Reliance Mutual Life, James Osborn, High street
Royal Fire & Life, John Sharpe, Bury road
Scottish Union, Fuller Rolfie. High street
Star Life, John Clarke, sen. High street
Suffolk Alliance Fire & Life, James Clark, High street
Inland Revenue Office, Chequers inn
Corn Market, Ram commercial inn, William Tilbrook
Registrar of Births & Deaths & Relieving Officer, John Sharpe, Bury road
SCHOOLS :�
Free Grammar, John Notley, master
Victoria National, William Felling,master; Mrs. Louisa Felling, mistress
CARRIERS TO:�
BURY�George Ashman, Wednesday & Saturday; Butcher,
Wednesday & Saturday, returning same days
NORTHWOLD�Crisp, three times weekly
STOKE�Salmon, three times weekly
WATTON�Allen, daily
WATER CARRIER.�Mrs. S. Murrell. Vessels by river to Lynn, Thetford 4c Bury,
weekly
Bliss Henry Aldridge, esq. Brandon park
Boughen Mr. Hugh
Brook Henry, esq. North Court lodge
Buckenham John, M.D. High street
Currey Mrs. High street
Gallant Rev. Walter [Baptist], High street
Garner Miss, High street
Home Robert, esq. Brandon hall
Pepworth Mrs. London road
Plumb Mrs. London road
Poley Rev. William Weller, M.A., J.P. Brandon house
Richards Mr. Daniel, High street
Thompson Robert, esq. High street
Warren Rev. Samuel, Rectory
Wood Mr. John, Grafton house, High street
Wood Mr. William, Norfolk house
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