Properties on Church Lane, Brandon include:

Brandon Chapel – see link

Village Hall Site –

Around 1963 or 1964 a Social Club was erected on the land next to the Chapel.  The land was given to the village by Mr Doubleday of Church Lane Farm.  Years before there had been a farm labourer’s cottage on the site (plot 100 on the Tithe map).  In 1851 we think this was occupied by Joseph Glossop

The wooden hut was from RAF Cranwell and may have been the one used by Frank Whittle when he was developing the jet engine.  Money for the hall had been raised from social events in barns, such as the ‘The Granary’ in Hall Lane.  Whist drives were lit by large paraffin lamps, which had been taken from the Church when Mr Sargent installed electric light. 

The hut was delivered in sections and many of the village men were involved in reassembling it over a weekend.  Mr Squires operated a dredger/dragline at Burtts farm and was allowed to use the machine (minus the dredging bucket) as a makeshift crane).

The hut had a bar and was used for dances with local bands playing.  The dances were well attended but sometimes became rather rowdy with fights breaking out and the police sometimes being called.  The hut was destroyed by fire in the late 1990s.  Discussions about who’d been responsible persisted for many years!

Rose Cottage –  the building just north of the chapel may have been occupied by John Sewards in 1811, then by William Rawding in 1841.  From 1850 to 1901 we think Thomas Rawding lived there.  The cottage was re-built and moved slightly c1980. 

Church Lane Farmhouse.  From around 1841 Church Lane Farm was occupied by Frederick Robinson, whilst his elder brother William ran Old Hall Farm.  Their father (also William) also lived with Frederick until the former’s death in 1856. Frederick and his wife Caroline moved in Wilsford in the 1860s.

The next occupants were probably William and Zilpha Freestone who were there in 1871 and 1881.  In 1891-1905 the farm was run by John Doubleday, then (1930-37) Charles Doubleday.  The Doubledays continued at Church Lane Farm until the 1950s.  In the 1960s it was the Harper family.