The Sign
The village sign includes some of the old buildings in the parish including the church and watermill (destroyed in 1917), all set behind the iron bridge over the river Gipping. The sign is located on the corner of Ship Lane and Fitzgerald Road. It was designed by Brian Flint and made by Des Oxborrow of Millfield. It was erected in 1977 to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

The Name and Population
The population was 2,303 at the 2011 census. It was Bran / Brunfort in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means "Broom ford" from Old English.

Other Points of Interest
The church is dedicated to St Mary