Brampton received grant of weekly market and annual fair 1252 and became market centre for Gilsland barony and wide area of north-east Cumberland. Thomas Denton (writing 1688) described it as a ‘market well stored with all sorts of corn, especially rye, in regard that they grow more rye than other grain in Gilsland.’ It was ‘improved both in building and trade’ and he estimated population to be 630. By 1801 population was 2,125, of whom 1,682 resided in Brampton township. By 19th century, Brampton continued to serve wide rural hinterland and possessed usual range of retailers, trades and professional services of a market town, including banking, clockmaking and printing. Coal mining provided employment: Brampton Coal Staith (1799) linked town by waggonway to earl of Carlisle’s collieries and quarries on Tindale Fell. Although Newcastle and Carlisle Railway bypassed Brampton, with station outside town at Milton (opened 1836), branch line (Brampton and Hartleyburn Railway) took passengers by horse-drawn ‘Dandy’ from Staith (renamed Brampton Town Station 1881) to Milton Station; line closed 1890, reopening briefly twice between 1913 and 1923. Two breweries were established (one in 1785; one by 1829); both continued into 20th century. Tannery and skin yard from at least 1790, continued throughout 19th century, supplying large number of boot and shoemakers: in 1850s there were 17 businesses employing c.80 shoemakers in Brampton. Textiles employed large numbers (c.200 in 1841), initially weaving checks and ginghams for Carlisle manufacturers. Numerous weaving shops and dye houses in town: one establishment of 13 rooms contained 22 looms in 1815. Scotch Tweed Mill, established 1865, was employing 150 by 1873; destroyed by fire 1875; rebuilt but did not flourish and closed within a few years. Other small-scale manufacturing included hat making and nail making and, during latter part of 19th century, mineral water manufacture. Population grew rapidly, rising to 2,754 by 1841 and peaking at 3,557 in 1871. With decline of manufacturing, Brampton’s population fell across late 19th and early 20th century to stand at 2,526 in 1931. Modernisation of housing stock to replace overcrowded lanes and yards began in 1930s under auspices of the Brampton Public Utility Society. From 1951 construction of Spadeadam rocket testing site (see Kingwater) brought large numbers of skilled technical staff to area, resulting in building of two housing estates in Brampton. Population rose to 4,033 by 1971. Although influx was short-lived, Brampton continued to grow slowly as dormitory for Carlisle. Small industrial estate developed at Townfoot from 1980s. In 2001 population stood at 4,361.