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Bramham, West Yorkshire facts for kids

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Bramham
Looking up Low Way from Front Street.jpg
Low Way
Bramham is located in West Yorkshire
Bramham
Bramham
Population 1,650 
OS grid reference SE425430
• London 170 mi (270 km) SSE
Civil parish
  • Bramham cum Oglethorpe
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town WETHERBY
Postcode district LS23
Dialling code 01937
Police West Yorkshire
Fire West Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament
  • Elmet and Rothwell
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
53°52′48″N 1°21′06″W / 53.8800°N 1.3516°W / 53.8800; -1.3516

Bramham is a village in West Yorkshire, England. It is part of the City of Leeds area. The village is found in the Bramham cum Oglethorpe parish.

Bramham is about 3 miles (5 km) south of Wetherby. It sits between the cities of Leeds and York. The village is also about 12 miles (19 km) south of Harrogate. This area is sometimes called the "Golden Triangle" because it is a nice place to live. Bramham is on the edge of West Yorkshire, close to North Yorkshire.

A big event happens near Bramham every year. Bramham Park, a large estate, hosts the Leeds Festival. This is a huge music and arts festival. It takes place every August during the Bank Holiday weekend.

What Does the Name Bramham Mean?

The name Bramham is very old. It was first written down in the Domesday Book. This was a big survey of England made in 1086. The name comes from two old English words. Brōm means 'broom' (a type of plant). Hām means 'village' or 'homestead'. So, Bramham once meant 'a village with lots of broom plants'.

A Look at Bramham's History

Bramham has a long history, going back to Roman times. It was built where an old Roman road crossed the Great North Road. This made it an important place for travel.

The oldest part of All Saints Parish Church was built around 1150. This was during the time of the Normans. The church has a tower and a spire. Its churchyard is oval, which suggests it is very ancient.

Bramham Church
All Saints' Church, which dates back to Norman times.

Many old houses in the village are made from Magnesian Limestone. This stone was dug up right in Bramham. Stone from Bramham was even used to build parts of York Minster. This famous cathedral is in York. The stone was moved by water from nearby rivers.

The Battle of Bramham Moor

A famous battle happened near Bramham. It was called the Battle of Bramham Moor. This battle took place on February 19, 1408, in the snow. Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, was fighting against King Henry IV. Percy and his rebels were defeated. Percy himself was killed in the battle.

Today, there is a stone that marks where the Earl of Northumberland fell. It is in Blackfen Wood, Bramham. In 2008, a new stone and information board were put up. This was to remember the 600th anniversary of the battle.

Bramham Moor 1408
Memorial Stone at the site of the Battle of Bramham Moor, which took place in 1408.

Some soldiers from the English Civil War are buried in Bramham churchyard. These soldiers died during the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. This battle was fought a few miles away. It is said that Oliver Cromwell trained his soldiers, called the Ironsides, on Bramham Moor. He recruited young local farmers who were good riders.

Bramham's Population Over Time

In 1686, Bramham was a stop for coaches traveling between London and Edinburgh. It had more people than Wetherby at that time. In 1801, about 800 people lived in Bramham. This number grew to 1,300 by 1861.

However, the population then dropped to 950 by 1901. Since then, it has slowly grown again. By 2001, there were about 1,750 people in the village. Many of them were young people.

Bramham During World War I

During the First World War, there was an airfield called Bramham Moor Aerodrome. It opened in 1916. This airfield was used by the Royal Flying Corps. They defended cities like Leeds, Sheffield, and York from German airships called Zeppelins.

Later, American pilots also trained at Bramham Moor. This was to help them get ready for combat. After the war, the airfield closed in 1919. One large hangar from that time is still standing today.

For many years, Bramham was a farming village. But as the Great North Road became busier, more inns and stables opened. These served travelers passing through. Over time, many people found jobs on the large estates, like Bramham Park.

Today, fewer people work in farming. Many villagers now travel to other places for work. This has made Bramham a diverse village. A large part of the village is a special "conservation area." This means it is protected to keep its historic look.

Bramham Today

What Bramham is Like

Bramham Village
Part of Bramham as viewed from the western outskirts of the village near the A1.

Bramham is a lively village with many different things. It has churches, farms, and pubs. There is a grand stately home with beautiful gardens. The village also has doctors, dentists, and many other local businesses.

Many people who live in Bramham work in nearby towns and cities. So, while there are some local businesses, most jobs are found outside the village.

Schools and Healthcare

Bramham Primary School teaches the younger children in the village. Most students then go on to Boston Spa Comprehensive School.

Bramham has a Medical Centre for healthcare. For hospital treatment, people usually go to hospitals in Leeds or Harrogate. There is also an ambulance station in Bramham.

Fun Community Activities

Red Lion, Bramham
The Red Lion

Many activities happen at Bramham Village Hall. There are groups for drama, dance, and fitness. There are also clubs for Guides and Brownies, and youth groups. The hall hosts church events, parties, and shows.

The Bramham Community Action Group helps plan events for the village. They started the Bramham Gala again in 2006. This is a fun yearly event held on the playing fields.

Since 2003, the Leeds Festival has been held at Bramham Park. This big music festival brings many visitors. Local residents can get free tickets to the festival. The money from the festival also helps the Bramham Community Fund. This fund supports local community groups in the village.

Bramham has a public house called The Swan. There used to be another pub, The Red Lion, but it closed in 2022.

Sports in Bramham

Bramham Stone Sign
Village signpost along Toulston Lane on the way to Tadcaster.

Bramham Football Club started in 1907. It has two teams that play at Freely Lane. The club has won several awards in recent years. There are also Junior and Girls football teams.

Bramham and Clifford Cricket Club has one team. They play at Rhodes Lane in nearby Clifford village.

The Bramham Horse Trials are held at Bramham Park every June. This is one of the UK's top 3-day horse riding events. It attracts riders from all over the world. Over 35,000 people visited the event in 2006.

Bramham College

Bramham College was a private school that opened in 1843. It was located at Bramham Biggin. The college grew to include a hall, theatre, and gymnasium. It became well-known and taught the sons of important families in Yorkshire.

However, the college closed in 1869. This was after many students became sick during a serious outbreak of cholera. Several students died and are buried in Bramham churchyard.

The Bramham Moor Hunt

The Bramham Moor Hunt was started in the 1740s. It was founded by George Fox Lane, who owned Bramham Park. The hunt used fox hounds to follow foxes.

In 2002, the Bramham Moor Hunt joined with another hunt. It is now called the Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt.

During the Second World War, two Hunt-class destroyers (types of navy ships) were named after these hunts. They were called HMS Badsworth and HMS Bramham.

A special train engine was also named "The Bramham Moor." It was built in 1932 and pulled trains in the north-east of England.

Bramham on TV

Between 1979 and 1986, Bramham was used for filming a TV show. It was a comedy series called In Loving Memory. The show starred Dame Thora Hird.

Location grid

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bramham para niños

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