Local History

For a picturesque, rural village, Brandeston has a colourful history. Avoiding the plague which wiped out neighbouring villages in the Middle Ages, Brandeston retains many old houses and stories from the past.

The Black Prince, son of Edward III and a medieval military hero hunted here in the upper reaches of the River Deben with the de la Pole family. A less welcome visitor was Matthew Hopkins, the self-styled Witchfinder General. This 20-something son of a Puritan clergyman was paid by East Anglian magistrates to uncover witchcraft. Unfortunately John Lowes, the ageing vicar of Brandeston, had a troubled relationship with his parishioners at that time and was accused of being in league with the devil. He was ‘swum’ in the moat at Framlingham Castle before being hanged.

In later generations, Brandeston was involved in Suffolk’s smuggling trade. On the main route from Sizewell to Hadleigh, famous smugglers who lived in Brandeston include the romantic heroine Margaret Catchpole and the notorious George Crabbe.

More information about Brandeston’s history can be found on the village website www.Brandeston.net.