The Brancepeth Brawn

The Neville’s estates were confiscated in the late 16th century but Brancepeth Castle survived
in the ownership of several different families throughout the centuries. And still remains in
private ownership today.

Historians would argue that the definition of Brancepeth is a corruption of ‘Brandon’s Path’
named for the adjacent St Brandon’s church.

However, many would say the name means ‘Brawn’s Path’.

From the River Wear to the River Gaunless, the Brancepeth Brawn was a formidable wild boar,
which struck terror into the lives of the locals.

Fearless and feared, this brawn stood its ground against any person who tried to tackle it.

“He feared not ye loute with his staffe, ne yet for ye knyghte in hys mayle, he cared no more for ye monke with his boke than ye fyendis in deep Croix Dale”.

A local man named Hodge, who took it upon  himself to rid the village of this terrible foe.

Digging a pit in the ground he camouflaged the deep hole by laying tree boughs and greenery
across the top. He knew which woodland path the brawn regularly trotted along, and so scattered food along the path as a lure.

Then he sat and patiently waited...

His patience was rewarded when the brawn eventually came crashing out of the undergrowth,  tumbled onto the thin layer of greenery and plunged headlong into the pit below. Finally, with no means of escape, the beast was slaughtered by the successful huntsman.

Several place names in the surrounding area are linked to the legend of the Brancepeth Brawn.

The slayer of the brawn’s grave is said to be found in the churchyard of nearby Merrington.

And Ferry Wood and Cleves Cross all figure in the legend too, as does Brandon Hill, the location of the brawn’s lair.