Brading

"BRADING, a parish in the liberty of East Medina, Isle of Wight, in the county of Southampton, 7 miles to the E. of Newport. It is situated on the west coast of the island, at the foot of Brading Down, aid contains Alverstone, formerly a chapelry, and the chapelries of Bembridge and Sundown, now independent of Brading. It is a very ancient town, and was formerly a place of some importance, being styled "the King's town of Berding." It had a market and a charter of incorporation before the reign of Edward VI., under which it is still governed by two bailiffs, a recorder, and 13 jurats. It is said to have once returned members to parliament. Brading Haven, at the head of which the town stands, is a mere marsh, 800 or 900 acres in extent, covered by the sea at high tide. Several attempts have been made to reclaim this tract from the sea by embanking it, the most important being that made by Sir Hugh Myddelton, in the reign of James I. The work cost about £7,000, but from various causes, chiefly from a high tide which made a breach in the bank, the attempt failed."

[From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]