Bradninch

infobox UK place
latitude= 50.8333
longitude= -3.4167
country = England
official_name= Bradninch
population= 1,916 (2001 census)
shire_county = Devon
shire_district= Mid Devon
region= South West England
os_grid_reference = SS9903
dial_code=
post_town=
postcode_area=
postcode_district=
constituency_westminster=
hide_services=true

Bradninch is a small town in Devon, England, lying about three miles south of Cullompton. Bradninch dates back to before the 7th century and at this time there was a Saxon fortress on Castle hill. The feudal Baron of Bradninch in the 12th century was Sir William de Tracy, one of the assassins of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket.

The town was largely destroyed in a fire in 1666 (the same year as the Great Fire of London). It used to be served by the railway station at Hele, which is now closed.

Notable buildings in the town include Bradninch Guildhall, the manor house, Earlsland House, Comfort House, and the parish church. The church is 15th century, with a finely decorated screen. In the panels at th screen's base are nearly 50 paintings of Saints and bibical scenes. Another screen in the church is simpler, with panels of various saints, including an unusual one of Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata.

Bradninch claims to have been home to the world's oldest goldfish, who is now deceased. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20051014/ai_n15713645] George Boone, the grandfather of the famous pioneer Daniel Boone, used to live here.

Population

* Present day. According to the [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do;jsessionid=ac1f930cce67f444db7c13e4825b5b6a9a98d2c244d.e38Qa3mPbh4Kai0Lb34Na3uRbx0Re6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy?a=0&b=5947647&c=EX5+4NW&d=14&e=1&g=436485&i=1x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=125&bhcp=1 Office for National Statistics] Bradninch Ward had a population of 1,230 in April 2001.
* 1998/99 population 1,811 (See [http://www4.devon.gov.uk/profiles/markettowns/cullompton/soc_pop.html Dept of Social Security] )
* 1887 (John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles) population 1,705
* 1851 population 1,834 (See [http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/119929/1.html Devon Libraries Local Studies Service] )

External links

* [http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Bradninch/ Entry in GENUKI (UK and Ireland genealogy), including description from the year 1850]
* [http://www.devon.gov.uk/etched?url=etched/ixbin/hixclient.exe&_IXP_=1&_IXR=100446 Description in Devon County Council / Devon Libraries Local Studies Service]
* [http://www.middevon.gov.uk/media/pdf/8/n/Special%20Historic%20Interest.pdf History of Bradninch]
* [http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/101935/1.html Bradninch shown on a map of the county of Devon, 1765]