BRAMPTON, a market town of Cumberland, England, 9m. E.N.E. of Carlisle, on a branch of the London and North-eastern railway. Population of parish (1931) 7,932. It is situated in a narrow valley opening upon that of the Irthing. Two miles N.E. of Brampton is the castle of Naworth built in the reign of Edward III. Overlooking a deep wooded ravine, with streams to the east and west, the great quadrangular castle was naturally defended except on the south, where it was rendered secure by a double moat and drawbridge. By marriage in 1577 with Lady Elizabeth Dacre it passed into the hands of William Howard, afterwards lord warden of the Marches, the "Belted Will" of Sir Walter Scott and the border ballads, who acquired great fame by his victories over the Scottish moss-troopers. The castle is the property of the earl of Carlisle and has numerous fine pictures.
Not far distant is Lanercost Priory, where in 116g an Augus tinian monastery was established. In 1311 Robert Bruce and his army were quartered here, and the priory was pillaged in 1346 by David, king of Scotland. From this time its prosperity declined until its dissolution by Henry VIII. The Early English church has a restored nave, but retains much fine carving. The chancel is ruined, but the interesting crypt is preserved. Brampton has an agricultural trade, small breweries, and manufactures a little cotton and tweed, but the majority of the population find em ployment as coal-miners and metal-workers on the neighbouring coal-field.