England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Brandeston All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Brandeston lies in eastern central Suffolk about 4 miles southwest of the small market town of Framlingha, Brandeston sits in an area largely devoid of significant major roads, the closest being the A1120 (Stowmarket to Yoxford) road which lies almost 3 miles to Brandeston's north. Brandeston sits on the northern banks of the River Deben, a triangle of roads forming the spine of the village with most properties on the more northern lane but the Hall & church on the southern lane closer to the Deben. Like most Suffolk parishes arable farming dominated the village economy but the grazing marshes of the Deben valley would have, here, provided a little variety. Even today Brandeston is a sleepy rural place with some facilities remaining due to its relative isolation. The Deben drains the parish eastwards, reaching the North Sea through Woodbridge and its estuary. Brandeston is sited at around 30 metres above the sea, out of the Deben's valley land rises a further 20 metres or so to a general plateau close to that height. This area of Suffolk is characterised by a series of small and equally sized parishes, Brandeston being typical and covering just over 1,200 acres, within that acreage a population of close to 550 parishioners would have been supported. In Domesday times Brandeston was a holding of the ubiquitous Bishop Odo of Bayeux, a tiny place offering just 3 ploughs together with the usual meadows and woodland.

The Church

All Saints church sits on the southern side of the more southern lane (Old Maid's Lane) which parallels the course of the Deben and to the east of the estate of Brandeston Hall (now a preparatory school). The church is a fairly typical example of a church begun in the Decorated style and completed in the later Perpendicular fashion, albeit one in which much restoration has occurred over the course of its existence. Scant evidence of former origins is indicated by the survival of 3 lancet windows on the southern side of the chancel, an Early English Gothic trace of the 12th century. It is questionable, however, if these survivors are in situ as the chancel was ruinous in a report of 1602 and was essentially rebuilt as a consequence. More secure ground is shown by the western tower, the main stylistic features being Decorated but with a Perpendicular western window. Both nave and chancel have been painted to a rather bold white which contrasts with the more typical flint-work of the tower. A major restoration took place in the 1860 which not only rebuilt the roofs but replaced the existing porch with a newer version as well generally refreshing the remainder. The church has only a thin verge so parking in the narrow lane needs to be considerate. The churchyard, surrounded by a low brick wall with wooden gates, is almost divided into two by a tall clipped pair of yew hedges which forma processional way to the northern door, an attractive feature but a challenge to the photographer in capturing the church adequately.