BRAILSFORD-L Archives

From: "T&K Brailsford" <>
Subject: Brailsford township and history
Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 09:03:05 +1000

The following was sent from Chris (not Jenny!) Booth a couple of weeks ago. Sorry, I should have forwarded it earlier to the list.
Kerrie
----- Original Message -----
From: Jenny Booth
To: T&K Brailsford
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 10:26 PM
Subject: Re: BRAILSFORD/BERESFORD and derivatives


Kerrie,

There are no attachments to this e-mail.


I thought that some of this may be of interest ...


Before the Norman Conquest in 1066 the villages of Brailsford and Ednaston (which today make up the bulk of the parish of Brailsford) were owned by two Saxon Lords. Earl Waltheof owned Brailsford and Toki, Ednaston. Elfin de Brailsford held the land for Earl Waltheof. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086 Brailsford had a priest and half a church, whilst Ednaston had half a church. The church is half way between the two villages. It may be that the two Saxon lords had shared the cost of building it, and this explains the remote location. The only surviving remnant of the Saxon church is a cross in the Churchyard.


The Domesday survey of 1086 records the following:

Land of Henry de Ferrers
M. In Brailsford Earl Waltheof had 2 carucates of land taxable.
Land for 2 ploughs. Now in lordship 2 ploughs.
24 villagers and 3 smallholders have 5 ploughs.
A priest and ½ church; 1 mill, 10s 8d; meadow 11 acres;
Woodland pasture 1 league long and 1 league wide.
Value before 1066, 60s; now 40s. Elfin holds it.

The 'Elfin' quoted as the holder of Brailsford was known as Elfin de Brailsford (or maybe Alsin or even Alselin - the medieval letter 's' was written to look like an 'f' in the middle of words). He is one of the rare instances of a Saxon Lord retaining his lands after the Norman Conquest.


Origins of the name 'Brailsford':
The origin of the name Brailsford is uncertain, but speculation about it provides interesting reading:

"Ford by a burial place" from the Old English word Braegels (burial place) and "ford". The burial place, however, would not be the church, but a tumulus or burial mound, probably prehistoric in origin.

"Brailes" may be a Celtic name (from brez + lis) meaning "Hill Court". There is some belief that there may have been monastic buildings close to the site of the old Manor House. Hill courts were associated with monasteries. To add weight to this theory, there are three ponds to the south and east of the current Brailsford Hall that are supposedly old carp pools (commonly farmed by monks). The pools have been linked by old sluice gates.

An alternative meaning of "Brail" is "Mill Stream". Hence the name, "ford over a mill stream".


Finally, my interest is in the Village and parish of Brailsford, but I came across the following births. While they may not connect with anything you need at present, they may add to your archive.

Father: John Brailsford
Mother: unknown
Son: John Brailsford
Christened: 12 Jan 1791 at Brailsford

Father: Samuel Brailsford
Mother: Elizabeth
Daughter: Ellen Brailsford
Christened: 6 Apr 1790 at Brailsford
Daughter: Mary Brailsford
Christened: 11 Feb 1787 at Brailsford
Daughter: Millicent Brailsford
Christened: 17 Jul 1796 at Brailsford


Chris Booth

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• Brailsford township and history by "T&K Brailsford" <>