Branston History

Branston is a small village in North East Leicestershire, consisting of 40 houses, and belonging mainly to the Belvoir Estate. In past years the tenancy of the houses has passed on from generation to generation so some family names have continued in the village from the 17th century.

Originally all the local houses were built of local sandstone but in 1912 two brick cottages were built. It was in one of those, the one nearest to the now defunct Methodist Chapel, that on the 22nd day of February, 1932, Frank Haynes was born. The seventh son of Bert and Edie Haynes. He was subsequently christened Francis after his mothers sister Frances Higgs, nee Sheppard.

The church is dedicated to St Guthlac ( 673 - 714 ) and it is thought that Guthlac stayed at Branston on his way from Repton to Crowland. Thus indicating that Branston existed in Saxon times. It is mentioned in the Domesday book.

The school was built in 1843 at a cost of £427, most of the money being donated by the rector, Revd. William Selwyn. Between 30 and 40 children attended the school until after World War 2 when numbers on the roll dwindled to 7 in 1962 and the school was closed. The children were transferred to Eaton school. At the time of Frank Haynes` birth his brothers Mark, Courtney, Hubert and Vivian, and his sister Monica attended the school, his eldest brother Bryan, an ex pupil had moved on to the Grammar school at Melton Mowbray and his brother Tony was still at home with his mother. A second sister, Myra was born on July 31st 1932, by which time the family had moved on to live at Saltby.

Men in Branston in pre-World War 2 times were almost all employed in the ironstone quarries bordering the village and on the 7 farms which were then in existence. Employment is now in the nearby towns, though half the residents are retired.

Electricity was brought to Branston in 1934, water in 1958 and sewers in 1970. These amenities have contributed to the change in village life.

Between the wars the needs of the villagers were provided for by the services of a carpenter, wheelwright, undertaker, shopkeepers, Post Office, the church and Methodist chapel, the Wheel Inn, the school and daily bus service to Melton and Grantham from the 1930 until the 1950`s, when people began to acquire cars. Of those services all that is left in Branston in 1993 are the church and the Wheel Inn, with the addition of a garage.

The picture below was supplied by Alec Hall and digitised and printed by Frank Haynes. Mr Hall, one of a family of 10 children, was 10 when the picture was taken and is on the picture along with Franks brothers and sister and his own sister Muriel. After Muriel married she moved to Guernsey where she is still living. Another of Mr Halls sisters, Hilda, became the schools last headmistress. The Hall family have lived in Branston since 1820. Alec left in 1938 but some of his family remained there. His sister Winnie Renshaw still lives there.