BRAINTREE, urban district, Essex, England; 45m. N.E. of London by a branch line from Witham of the L.N.E. rail way. Pop. of urban district (193i) 8,912. The parish church of St. Michael is fine Early English with later additions. The bishops of London had formerly a palace here, but nothing remains. Silk and crepe manufactures have superseded that of woollen cloth introduced by Flemish refugees from the persecution of the duke of Alva, but iron workers, especially fitters, are now more numerous.