The Sign
The sign was made of wrought iron by the local forge in 1977 for the Queens Silver Jubilee; many signs in the area came from this forge. It was donated by the Brandeston Wednesday Club. There are a few features to be seen on the sign including the church of All Saints, the arms of the Revett family on the top who came from the 16 century manor house. The hall has links with Framlingham independent boarding school now. The cottage is "Lots Hole" where smuggler Margaret Catchpole lived with her uncle. She was eventually captured and sent to Tasmania.

However the most intriguing to me is the figure of John Lowes, the church rector for 50 years, hanging from the gibbet. He was accused of witchcraft and hanged at Bury St Edmunds at the age of 74 in the 1640's. If you look closely, there is also a bat hovering over the church and gibbet.

The Name and Population
Brandeston is a small village which had 296 persons in 2011. Known as Brantestona in 1086 and Branteston in 1195. The name means "The farmstead or estate of a man called Brant" from Old English. The same meaning applies to the same named village in Norfolk.

 

 

Other Points of Interest
Brandeston features prominently in Ronald Bassett 's 1966 novel Witchfinder General and in the 1968 film of the same name, although the latter was not filmed in the village.