Halstead
Encyclopedia
Halstead is a town and civil parish
located in Braintree District
of Essex
, England
, near Colchester
and Sudbury
. It has a population of 11,053. The town is situated in the Colne
Valley, and originally developed on the hill to the north of the river. The name Halstead is said to have derived from the Old English hald (refuge, shelter, healthy) and stede (site, place or farm), meaning 'healthy farm' 'safe place' or 'place of refuge'.http://www.halsteadhistory.org.uk/History.html
The single wide High Street is dominated by the 14th century church of St Andrew which was extensively renovated during the Victorian period but retains much earlier decoration including tomb monuments dating from the 14th century and earlier.
Halstead has been home to the well-known author, Sheila Jacobs (writer of various Christian novels, including Watchers), as well as Darts professional Bobby George
and angler Bob Nudd
. Its main attractions include a local Antiques Mill
, the location of filming for some episodes of the television programme, Lovejoy
. It is also the home of 2010's X Factor
winner Matt Cardle
and Richard Bryant who has lived here since 1957.
Nearby Moyns Park
, a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house, is said to have been where Ian Fleming
put the finishing touches on his novel From Russia, with Love.
. The local Halstead Town Football Club
are in the Eastern Counties League First Division
.
Halstead is undergoing huge social change during 2011/ 2012 as Tesco attempts to build on a site in the centre of the Town destroying the last open area which is not yet developed. This is claimed by Braintree District Councillors to revitalise the town centre where there are already many closed shops whilst others have been given over to charity organisations thus giving the whole town a dilapidated and run down appearence. The former market on the High Street which had for hundreds of years operated on two days per week is now largely defunct with at best two or three stalls remaining. Braintree District Council announced in 2011 a plan to close the only Community Center in July 2012. In such an ancient town there is little scope to develop parking for visitors and the income from the existing spaces is the only source of revenue for the Town Council. With such a lack of work opportunities, social cohesiveness and business many young people choose to live elsewhere so that Halstead is seen more as a town for the older generation and as a dormitory for larger urban areas such as Braintree and Colchester.
Many people have reported that the best thing in Halstead is the road leading to Braintree.
to the north of the town centre which has applied for Academy status but as the number of pupils attending and subsequent roll numbers are falling this may be unlikely in the forseeable future.
There are however many schools with Academy status within easy travelling distance with most pupils choosing either Sible Hedingham, Braintree or Colchester to continue their education.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
located in Braintree District
Braintree (district)
Braintree is a local government district in the English county of Essex. Its main town is Braintree.The main centres of population are Braintree, Witham and Halstead....
of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, near Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
and Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
. It has a population of 11,053. The town is situated in the Colne
River Colne, Essex
The River Colne is a small river that runs through Colchester, England. It is not a tributary of any other river, instead having an estuary that joins the sea near Brightlingsea.-Source:...
Valley, and originally developed on the hill to the north of the river. The name Halstead is said to have derived from the Old English hald (refuge, shelter, healthy) and stede (site, place or farm), meaning 'healthy farm' 'safe place' or 'place of refuge'.http://www.halsteadhistory.org.uk/History.html
The single wide High Street is dominated by the 14th century church of St Andrew which was extensively renovated during the Victorian period but retains much earlier decoration including tomb monuments dating from the 14th century and earlier.
Halstead has been home to the well-known author, Sheila Jacobs (writer of various Christian novels, including Watchers), as well as Darts professional Bobby George
Bobby George
Robert Francis George is an English darts player and presenter. He is widely recognised as one of the game's biggest personalities, known for his flamboyant entrances in which the "King of Darts" makes his way to the stage bedecked in jewellery, wearing a crown and cloak and holding a candelabra...
and angler Bob Nudd
Bob Nudd
Bob Nudd was the first English angler to win four individual world angling championships:*1990 ,*1991 ,*1994 *1999 ....
. Its main attractions include a local Antiques Mill
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
, the location of filming for some episodes of the television programme, Lovejoy
Lovejoy
Lovejoy is a TV series about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques dealer and faker based in East Anglia, a less than scrupulous yet likeable rogue. The episodes were based on a series of picaresque novels by John Grant...
. It is also the home of 2010's X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
winner Matt Cardle
Matt Cardle
Matthew Sheridan "Matt" Cardle is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to fame after winning the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010. He received a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music by winning, and his debut number one single "When We Collide" was released immediately...
and Richard Bryant who has lived here since 1957.
Nearby Moyns Park
Moyns Park
Moyns Park is a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house located in Birdbrook, Essex, CO9 4BP. The home of the Gent family until the late 19th century, it was once owned by Ivar Bryce, a friend of Ian Fleming, who stayed at the house in the summer of 1956. Ivar's wife, the A&P Heiress Josephine...
, a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house, is said to have been where Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
put the finishing touches on his novel From Russia, with Love.
Culture
Halstead town centre is well served with restaurants, bars and pubs including: Scenarios nightclub in Trinity Street; The Locomotive in Butler Road; The Bull Hotel in Bridge Street; The White Hart and Whispers Wine Bar in the High Street. A flourishing historical society holding regular monthly meetings throughout the year and a town museum attached to the town council offices features some historical artifacts and various objects of purely local interest. The Empire Theatre in Butler Road hosts theatrical productions, live music and bingo nights. Halstead Public Gardens are situated South of the river, containing a range of floral displays, trees and a bandstand. In the summer season there are band concerts covering musical tastes from the traditional Victorian brass band to modern pop music and jazz. A River Walk runs through the town from east to west, and just outside the town is Broaks Wood, a popular area for walking owned by the Forestry CommissionForestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
. The local Halstead Town Football Club
Halstead Town F.C.
Halstead Town F.C. is an English football club based in Halstead, Essex. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Rosemary Lane.-History:...
are in the Eastern Counties League First Division
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
.
Halstead is undergoing huge social change during 2011/ 2012 as Tesco attempts to build on a site in the centre of the Town destroying the last open area which is not yet developed. This is claimed by Braintree District Councillors to revitalise the town centre where there are already many closed shops whilst others have been given over to charity organisations thus giving the whole town a dilapidated and run down appearence. The former market on the High Street which had for hundreds of years operated on two days per week is now largely defunct with at best two or three stalls remaining. Braintree District Council announced in 2011 a plan to close the only Community Center in July 2012. In such an ancient town there is little scope to develop parking for visitors and the income from the existing spaces is the only source of revenue for the Town Council. With such a lack of work opportunities, social cohesiveness and business many young people choose to live elsewhere so that Halstead is seen more as a town for the older generation and as a dormitory for larger urban areas such as Braintree and Colchester.
Many people have reported that the best thing in Halstead is the road leading to Braintree.
Education
Halstead is the home to 3 Primary schools: Holy Trinity http://www.holytrinityhalstead.com, St.Andrews and Richard de Clare, there is also a secondary school The Ramsey CollegeThe Ramsey College
The Ramsey College is a Secondary School in Halstead, Essex, England. As of July 2007 it was awarded certified special needs status. It is a mixed school, with no denominational religion...
to the north of the town centre which has applied for Academy status but as the number of pupils attending and subsequent roll numbers are falling this may be unlikely in the forseeable future.
There are however many schools with Academy status within easy travelling distance with most pupils choosing either Sible Hedingham, Braintree or Colchester to continue their education.