~ Access to a regular water supply has always been the foundation of any viable settlement, and Brailes is no different. The parish has an abundance of natural wells, with at least one property in the past built specifically with the kitchen over a well, allowing an indoor source of fresh water. At the turn of the 18th century there were over 900 private and public wells used daily to draw water in the Parish.

“In Upper Brailes, at the distance of 1¼ mile from the church, is a chalybeate spring, the water of which has been used with considerable advantage in cases of scrofula.”

– A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV. [source]

The clay-rich soil in the area was traditionally very fertile for crops but it also restricts water absorption into the ground, leading to increased surface runoff when the rain is persistently heavy, especially if the ground is very dry. As we can see from the map below Brailes has three streams running through it: (1) Sutton Brook, (2) Hen Brook, and (3) Scuttle Brook.