Places to Visit in Brading
Brading Old Town Hall
It is thought that the Old Town Hall, made of Island stone and brick, dates back to around 1730. Although there is no record of the earliest Town Hall, an entry in The Court Leet Book (a yearly or half-yearly court of record) of 1729 refers to a subscription towards building a New Town Hall, Market House and Prison, therefore suggesting it was built shortly after this date. Brading was once governed from this building by the corporate Officers; it is now serves as a custodian of civic documents and objects of historical interest.
Before heading up the stairs and entering the museum, you will see the famous five-hole stocks which bear the date 1750, but were used for many centuries before that as the town records demonstrate. The following entry is contained in the records of 1555:
“We present the wife of John Scarvell for drawing blood upon bailey Beale for which punciebater in Cippes.” (Punished in the stocks)
The history of the building and its functions in governing the everyday life of the town from Medieval times until the 19th Century can be read about in the upstairs room of the building. Also on view are a range of documents and possessions of the town, including weights and measures, dated 1829 – which were used when Brading was the testing place for weights and measures for all East Wight – Medieval Charters, Town Arms, old Leases, Law Books, an Act of Parliament and ancient seal of The Kynges Town of Brading, along with many other interesting artefacts and photographs.
The Old Town Hall – owned and maintained by Brading Town Trust
– has been open to the public as a museum since 1692.