Brampton Old Church is the surviving chancel of the medieval Church of St Martin. It stands within the northern half of a late first- or early second-century Roman fort on the Stanegate, surrounded by a historic burial ground and cared for today by Brampton Preservation Trust.
A Roman fort on the Stanegate
The first proven use of the site was military. A fort was built on a spur above the River Irthing beside the Stanegate, the Roman road linking Corbridge and Carlisle. It was large enough to accommodate an auxiliary unit of around 500 men.
Limited excavation by F. G. Simpson and I. A. Richmond in 1935 identified the defences, the south gateway, granaries, a headquarters building, a barrack block and other structures. Carefully sealed post holes suggest that the fort was deliberately dismantled, probably after Hadrian's Wall and its associated forts became operational.
The medieval parish church
The earliest documentary evidence for Brampton's church dates to 1169, when Osbertus, “persona de Brampton”, witnessed the dedication deed of Lanercost Priory. The church later served Brampton's medieval parish and was enlarged and altered over many generations.
Several medieval grave covers survive at the site. Among them is the cross-slab of Richard de Caldecotes, vicar of Brampton between 1334 and 1346, carved with a chalice, a book and a Latin inscription. A fortified tower was added at the west end during the fourteenth century, reflecting the insecurity of the Border region.
Why only the chancel survives
By the eighteenth century the old parish church stood well outside the growing town and was in poor condition. A chapel in Brampton town centre had become the more convenient place for worship. Permission to dismantle the old church was granted in 1787, and by 1789 the nave and west tower had been demolished.
The chancel remained to serve the burial ground as a mortuary chapel. The churchyard continued in use and was extended in 1861 and 1889. In 1861 the surviving building was itself extended at the east end and given a porch at the west, helping to create the form seen today.
From redundancy to preservation
The Roman fort and medieval church site became a Scheduled Monument in 1938. The churchyard closed during the 1960s, and the surviving chancel was declared redundant by the Church of England in 1978.
Brampton Preservation Trust was founded in 1981 by local people concerned about the loss of historic buildings and the character of the town. The Trust acquired Brampton Old Church in 1988 and oversaw restoration work. It continues to maintain the building, encourage public access and share the site's history.