Bradfield Combust

Bradfield Combust

All Saints church Bradfield Combust
Bradfield Combust

 Bradfield Combust shown within Suffolk
Shire county Suffolk
Region East
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
EU Parliament East of England
List of places: UK • England • Suffolk

Bradfield Combust is a village in Suffolk, England. According to Eilert Ekwall the meaning of the village name of "Bradfield" is "the wide fold" (syn. Bradefeld, Bradfelda, Bradefelda). "Combust" is derived from "Combusta" Latin fem. = burnt or burned; medieval syn. "Brent"

Contents

History

The Domesday Book records the population of Bradefelda manor, including Bradfield St Clare and Bradfield St George. Bradefelda/fella existed before the Conquest. The book states that then (i.e. before the Conquest), as in 1086, there were fifteen villans and eighteen bordars; 'then' one slave, and in 1086 six slaves; and three free men. Over these men St. Edmund (the Abbey of Edmund the Martyr) had sake and soke with regard to every customary due. They were not allowed to sell their lands without the Abbot's say so. In the same place (i.e Bradfield) other men had more rights: there were in 1086, as before the Conquest, nine free men who could sell their lands but the soke and service belonged to the Abbey or anyone who purchased the land. The Book also records that the church of this 'vill' owned ten and a half acres of free land for alms.

Before the Conquest, the manor was probably owned by Ulfketel, Saxon King of the East Angles, who gave this part of his manor to the monks of St. Edmund, while reserving the lordship.[1]

The name Bradfield Combust is traditionally said to have derived from an incident in the autumn of 1327, when an angry mob burned down Bradfield Hall at Bradfield,[2] at the time the property of the Crown (a young Edward III) and managed by the Abbot of Bury St Edmunds. However, it is reliably asserted that a Bradfield Hall (the King's own hall) inside the Abbey[3] at Bury St Edmunds was burnt down during that insurrection.[4][5] Thus there were two Bradfield Halls and there arose a debate as to the naming of the village, and the circumstances surrounding it. The settlement is certainly known to have been called 'Bradefeld Combusta' in 1302/03.[6] Thus the naming of the village cannot originally have been associated with the 1327 insurrection. It is reasonable however, to deduce that the name of Bradfield Combust (appearing certainly in the early 1300s, and in the 15C synonymous with Brent Bradfield or Burnt Bradfield[7][8]) does derive from some conflagration - but of what, when prior to 1302, and exactly where, is presently unknown.

Bradfield Hall at Bradfield Combust is perhaps best known from the 17C as the seat of the Young family, spanning several generations (from 1620 to the early 20C) and famous heads of the household. The most eminent member was Arthur Young (1741–1820), an agriculturalist and great socio-political writer and campaigner for the rights of agricultural workers.[9] This Arthur Young entertained or corresponded with such notable people as William Wilberforce, George Washington, Edmund Burke, François Alexandre Frédéric, duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, and Joseph Priestley. According to Matilda Betham-Edwards, never perhaps had been seen in Suffolk such distinguished international gatherings. The present flint and brick Hall was built in 1857 on the exact site of its predecessor, by his son Arthur John Young. It lies adjacent to a square moated area, possibly modified to make it more impressive when the 1857 Hall was built beside it,[10] but of antiquity.

The current village sits astride the A134, originally a Roman road just here, and the same highway that Will Kempe (one of the co-founders of the Globe Theatre) took in Shakespearian times on his famous dance from London to Norwich.

The church, All Saints, is officially dated 1066-1539 AD,[11] with a late 12C Norman font and doorway to the north of the nave. Two wall paintings appear in the nave, one representing St. George and the Dragon (circa 1400), and the other St. Christopher.[12] The tomb of Arthur Young, in the form of a sarcophagus, lies in the churchyard.[13] It is inscribed "Let every real patriot shed a tear, For genius, talent, worth, lie buried here."

Presently the village is the site of several commercial fruit orchards and strawberry fields. Suffolk Scouts operate the Bradfield Park Campsite for the benefit of Scouting, Guiding, Educational and Youth Organisations.[14]

The Manger public house is a grade II listed 15C building with 16C and 17C alterations. It was referred to as "Bradfield Manger"[15] in will of Thos. Roberson, 16 July 1660. It is a popular pub/restaurant and a handy meeting place for clubs and special-interest groups

Listed buildings

English Heritage lists the following listed buildings within Bradfield Combust.

Grade I

None

Grade II*

Grade II

[16][17][18]

NB: The above property details represent the names and addresses that were used at the time that the buildings were listed. In some instances the name of the building may have changed over the intervening years

References

  1. ^ The Manors of Suffolk, Their History and Devolution, Vol VI. by Copinger p. 255. pub Manchester 1910
  2. ^ Paxman, Jeremy (1998). The English. 
  3. ^ English Heritage (1992, repr. 2004). Bury St Edmunds Abbey, English Heritage Guidebook, p4-5. 
  4. ^ Dymond & Northeast (1985). A History Of Suffolk. 
  5. ^ ed. T. Arnold (1892). Memorials of St Edmund's Abbey, HMSO, London, p338. 
  6. ^ Inquisitions and Assessments relating to Feudal Aids, HMSO, London Vol IV, p30. 1908. 
  7. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hwbradley/aqwg1513.htm#25421
  8. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hwbradley/aqwg1298.htm#21311
  9. ^ The Autobiography of Arthur Young. by Matilda Betham-Edwards. Pub New York, A.M. Kelley, 1967
  10. ^ Suffolk County Sites & Monuments Record SF791
  11. ^ Suffolk County Sites & Monuments Record SF465
  12. ^ Suffolk County Council Sites & Monuments Record BRC 003 SF 465
  13. ^ Atkinson R G, 1986
  14. ^ http://www.bradfieldparkcampsite.org.uk/index.html
  15. ^ http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-403227-the-manger-public-house-bradfield-combus
  16. ^ "Listed Buildings Online - English Heritage". http://lbonline.english-heritage.org.uk/. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  17. ^ "Heritage Gateway". http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  18. ^ Combust&s=combined "Bradfield Combust - British Listed Buildings". http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/search?q=Bradfield Combust&s=combined. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bradfield_Combust Bradfield Combust] at Wikimedia Commons