Bradfield, Norfolk


Bradfield is a village within the civil parish of Swafield, in the English county of Norfolk. The village is south south east of Cromer, north north east of Norwich and north east of London. The village lies north north west of the town of North Walsham. The nearest railway station is at Gunton for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport. As with some Norfolk villages, Bradfield stretches across many square miles and merges into other villages on the edges. Bradfield Cricket Club has roots dating back to the late 1800s when a group of farm workers were allowed to play cricket on one of Bradfield Hall Farm fields. Over the years the ground has developed and now boasts one of the best playing surfaces and outfields in the whole of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance

History

The village is named after James Bradfield, lord of the manor, born in 1735 in England, the son of Mary Pratt and an unknown father. He married Sarah Good in 1782 in Cork, Ireland. They had one daughter during their marriage, Sarah. He died on 21 October 1807 in Dublin, Dublin, at the age of 72.

Saint Giles parish Church

is a large church for what is now a small community. The church, however was once bigger still. There is evidence of this both inside and out, because the north and south arcades were filled in when the aisles were demolished. The pillars and arches can still be seen, set in the walls, the early 14th century capitals revealing the age of the church. The porch is dated 1786, along with the churchwardens' names, which is probably shortly after the aisles were demolished. At the east end of the church there is a decorated window and pentagonal buttresses with stone pinnacles added in 1864 when some restoration work was carried out on the church. Above the chancel arch there is a wall painting of Christ in Judgment. He sits on a rainbow showing his wounds. The wall painting dates from the 15th century.

Church gallery