John Brand ‘A colourful character’
In a previous article (Issue 101) about distinguished Old Novos who had featured in The School Song, I wrote of Henry Bourne (unknown-1709), Folklorist and Historian and I included reference to John Brand (1750s and 1778-1784), who drew upon Bourne’s work. Brand hailed from Washington where his father was the Parish Clerk. After his mother’s early death and his father’s remarriage, he lived with his maternal aunt and uncle, Anne and Anthony Wheatley in Gateshead, remaining devoted to them throughout his life. By Alan Castree (53-61).
B
rand’s education at RGS was under the headship of the formidable Hugh Moises (1749-87) who took an interest in him, recognising outstanding talent and an exceptional grasp of the Classics. Moises found support for him to enter Lincoln College, Oxford. After graduation and ordination he accepted a curacy at Cramlington, which he retained until his death despite the fact that he spent most of his later life in London. He also enjoyed spells as Under-usher, then Usher at RGS. A significant early patron, thanks to the assistance of Moises, was the Duke of Northumberland. Could one ask for greater support? The Duke granted Brand the rectory of the united parishes of St Mary at Hill and St Mary Hubbard, London, just off Cheapside. He appointed Brand as one of his domestic chaplains. Brand also assumed the role of Secretary and Librarian to the Duke. Already a member of the Society of Antiquaries while in Newcastle, when he arrived in London (1780s) Brand was elected Secretary to that body, for which he received a stipend and accommodation; he held the post until his death. His early ventures into publication were through poetry, including poetical essays and a singular work, On Illicit Love Written Among the Ruins of Godstow Nunnery, 1775 (the location refers to the burial place of Rosamund Clifford, a favourite mistress of Henry II). Mackenzie, in his History of Newcastle (1827), describes the poem as, ‘beautiful, pathetic and moral’; it focuses on the exposure of the criminality of unlawful passion, a subject that concerned Brand throughout his life.
History and Antiquities of the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne by John Brand, 1789
12
In 1777, basing his work on that of Henry Bourne, he published his Observations on Popular Antiquities. There is little doubt that the scarcity of, and demand for, Bourne’s earlier book, stimulated interest in Brand’s expanded version. Brand thereafter amassed additional material for a second edition but his collection overwhelmed him; not a tidy scholar, his storage of documents lacked system.
