The village takes its name from a ford across the Swale, it being originally Broad-Ford-Town, and now by contraction, Brafferton.

[3] St Peter's Church, Brafferton was built in the 15th century, modified in 1826 by the architect James Pritchett and restored in 1878.

Underneath is the Latin inscription: "orate pro animo Radulphi Neville fundatoris hujus Ecclesioe - soi deo honor et gloria!"

(Pray for the soul of Ralph Neville, founder of this Church- To God the honour and glory).

Ralph Rymer, Lord of the Manor at the Restoration, was executed in 1664 for his part in the Farnley Wood Plot of 1663.