Branston, Leicestershire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Branston | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Branston Location within Leicestershire | |
| OS grid reference | SK810293 |
| • London | 95 mi (153 km) S |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GRANTHAM |
| Postcode district | NG32 |
| Dialling code | 01476 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Branston is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Croxton Kerrial in the Melton district, in the county of Leicestershire, England. It lies 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the A607 road, 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Grantham and 7 miles north-east of Melton Mowbray, on the southern edge of the Vale of Belvoir, 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Belvoir Castle. Knipton Reservoir is 700 yards (640 m) to the north. In 1931 the parish had a population of 249.[1]
According to A Dictionary of British Place Names, Branston could be "a farmstead or a village of a man called Brant" – "Brant" from an Old English person name and "ton" for "enclosure, farmstead, village, manor, [or] estate".[2][3]
In the 1086 Domesday account Branston is referred to as "Brantestone"[4] in the Framland Hundred of north-east Leicestershire. It had 21 households, 10 villagers, 1 smallholder 6 freemen and 4 slaves, with a meadow of 16 acres (0.1 km2) and 2 mills. In 1066 Leofnoth of Branston was Lord of the Manor; after 1086 this transferred to Ralph of Kimcote, with the Bishop of Lincoln becoming Tenant-in-chief.[5]
The Parish Register of 1732 calls itself "A true register of all the Births, Burials & Marriages in Braunston near Croxton Kyriall in the County of Leicester in the sixth year of the reign of King George the second". [6]
On 1 April 1936 the parish was abolished and merged with Croxton Kerrial.[7]
The Grade II* listed St Guthlac's Church, Branston originated in the 13th century, with alterations up the 15th. New chancel and nave roofs were added in 1895–1896 by George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner, Gothic Revival architects.[8] Further Grade II listed buildings are three 18th-century farmhouses,[9][10][11] the early 19th-century Old Rectory,[12] and the Village Hall dating from 1843.[13]
