Bradenham, Norfolk

History

In the Domesday Book, Bradenham is recorded as a settlement of 53 households in the hundred of Greenhoe and was part of the estates of William de Warenne, Ralph of Tosny and Ralph Baynard.

West Bradenham Hall was built at some point between the 16th and mid-18th centuries, East Bradenham Hall, dating form the 17th-century, was rebuilt at around 1800.

From 1795, Stephen Watson's gibbet was located on common land between West Bradenham and Holme Hale. This remained hanging until at least October 1837, being the last gibbet to stand in Norfolk, and was at some point after this buried; it was discovered like this by H. Rider Haggard in 1899 and given to Norwich Castle Museum.

During the Second World War, a decoy airfield was built in the village.

Geography

According to the 2021 census, Bradenham has a population of 695 people which shows a slight decrease from the 700 people recorded in the 2011 census.

The River Wissey rises in the parish and flows to the west, whilst the River Yare rises to the east of Bradenham and flows to the east.

Churches

West Bradenham's parish church is dedicated to Saint Andrew and located on Church Lane. The church is early medieval in origin and features stained-glass windows depicting the Gospels by the O'Connor Brothers and an east window depicting the Crucifixion of Christ by William Wailes. It is Grade I listed.

St Mary's Church, East Bradenham is dedicated to St Mary. It has been redundant since 1973

Notable people

The Haggard family lived at West Bradenham Hall. The author H. Rider Haggard (1856–1925) recorded details of his life at the house.

Governance

Bradenham is part of the electoral ward of Saham Toney for local elections and is part of the district of Breckland. It is part of the Mid Norfolk parliamentary constituency.

References

References

1. Ordnance Survey (1999). ''OS Explorer Map 237 – Norwich''. {{ISBN. 0-319-21868-6.
2. [https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?TNF150-Parish-Summary-Bradenham-(Parish-Summary) Parish Summary: Bradenham], Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
3. Knott S (2007) [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/eastbradenham/eastbradenham.htm St Mary, East Bradenham], Norfolk Churches Site. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
4. "[East and West] Bradenham {{!}} Domesday Book".
5. "mnf8718 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer".
6. [https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf8721 Manor House (formerly East Bradenham Hall)], Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
7. Tarlow, Sarah. (2017). "How to Hang in Chains: How, Where and When Eighteenth-Century Sheriffs Organised a Gibbeting". [[Palgrave Macmillan]] UK.
8. Whyte, Nicola. (2003-04-01). "The Deviant Dead in the Norfolk Landscape". Landscapes.
9. Tarlow, Sarah. (2017). "How to Hang in Chains: How, Where and When Eighteenth-Century Sheriffs Organised a Gibbeting". [[Palgrave Macmillan]] UK.
10. "Norfolk's last post medieval gibbet".
11. Tarlow, Sarah. (2014-12-01). "The Technology of the Gibbet". [[International Journal of Historical Archaeology]].
12. "mnf13552 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer".
13. "Bradenham (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".
14. "Norfolk Churches".
15. "CHURCH OF ST ANDREW, Bradenham - 1342620 {{!}} Historic England".
16. "CHURCH OF ST MARY, Bradenham - 1151958 {{!}} Historic England".