{{Short description|Village in Derbyshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{coord|53.1282|-1.4443|display=title}} {{Infobox UK place |country = England |official_name= Brackenfield |static_image_name =Brackenfield Church - geograph.org.uk - 14812.jpg |static_image_caption=Brackenfield Church. |static_image_2 = Derbyshire UK parish map highlighting Brackenfield.svg |static_image_2_width = 240px |static_image_2_caption = Brackenfield parish highlighted within Derbyshire |population = 214 |population_ref = (2011) |shire_district =North East Derbyshire |region= East Midlands |shire_county = Derbyshire |constituency_westminster= North East Derbyshire |post_town= ALFRETON |postcode_district = DE55 |postcode_area= DE |dial_code= 01629 |os_grid_reference= SK372591 }}
'''Brackenfield''' is a village and civil parish in the North East Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England. The population of the civil parish as of the 2011 census was 214.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11121007&c=Brackenfield&d=16&e=62&g=6414725&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1458484439575&enc=1|title=Civi Parish population 2011|accessdate=20 March 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>
The village is about five miles east of Matlock and four and a half miles northwest of Alfreton. It is also close to Clay Cross. Set in farming country, the village is located around a large village green. The parish of Brackenfield includes much of the attractive Ogston Reservoir.<ref>[http://www.derbyshireuk.net/brackenfield.html Brackenfield], Derbyshireuk, accessed February 2009</ref>
Brackenfield was originally known as ''Brackenthwaite'', which probably meant "a bracken clearing". The suffix ''-thwaite'' is unusual in this part of the county, as it is commonly associated with more northern areas. It is of significance etymologically as it seems to point to the existence of a small colony of Norsemen or Norwegians, separate from the incursion of the Danes. The village later became known as ''Brackenfeld'', and then Brackenfield.
The parish of Brackenfield was originally a township of nearby Morton. It was divided from it in 1758. The parish has the smallest population of all parishes in the North East Derbyshire district. Wessington had a population of 509 in 2001,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ne-derbyslocplan.net/intro.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073621/http://www.ne-derbyslocplan.net/intro.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=North East Derbyshire District Council}}</ref> however in the 19th century it was around 350.
A horse named after the village unseated its rider when competing in the 1996 Grand National.
== See also == *List of places in Derbyshire *Listed buildings in Brackenfield
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Brackenfield}} * [https://www.brackenfield.org/ Brackenfield Village Website]
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Category:Villages in Derbyshire Category:Towns and villages of the Peak District Category:Civil parishes in Derbyshire Category:North East Derbyshire District
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