Editing Halstead

{{About|the town in Essex|the village in Kent|Halstead, Kent|other uses}}
{{Short description|Town in the Braintree district of Essex, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2011}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Halstead, Essex
| static_image_name = Halstead, Essex - geograph.org.uk - 151114.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Andrew's Church and Halstead High Street
| coordinates = {{coord|51.9451|0.6411|display=inline,title}}
| population = 11,906
| population_ref = ''(2011)''<ref name=ONS/>
| civil_parish = Halstead<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.halsteadtowncouncil.org.uk/ |title=Home |website=Halstead Town Council}}</ref>
| shire_district = [[Braintree (district)|Braintree]]
| shire_county = [[Essex]]
| region = East of England
| constituency_westminster = [[Braintree (UK Parliament constituency)|Braintree]]
| post_town = HALSTEAD
| postcode_district = CO9
| postcode_area = CO
| dial_code = 01787
| os_grid_reference = TL816306
}}
'''Halstead''' is a town and [[civil parish]] in the [[Braintree District]] of [[Essex]], England. Its population of 11,906 in 2011<ref name=ONS>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11124142&c=halstead&d=16&e=61&g=6422914&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1448761605859&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491 Office for National Statistics: ''Census 2001: Population Density, 2011''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113529/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11124142&c=halstead&d=16&e=61&g=6422914&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1448761605859&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491 |date=4 March 2016 }} Retrieved 29 November 2015.</ref> was estimated to be 12,161 in 2019.<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/essex/E34001263__halstead_braintree_/ City Population site. Retrieved 20 November 2020.]</ref> The town lies near [[Colchester]] and [[Sudbury, Suffolk|Sudbury]], in the [[River_Colne,_Essex|Colne Valley]]. It is twinned with [[Haubourdin]] in the Nord department of [[France]].

==History==
Halstead is an ancient community that developed initially on the hill to the north of the [[River_Colne,_Essex|River Colne]]. Archaeological evidence indicates that Halstead has been occupied since the early Bronze Age. The sites of Iron Age and Roman settlements, including a villa, were discovered in the vicinity of Greenstead Hall, where Saxon pottery was also found. A Romano-British villa also lies in a field to the south of the River Colne at Blue Bridge, indicating early settlement in the fertile river valley. The name Halstead derives from the [[Old English]] ''gehæld / hald'' (refuge, shelter, healthy) and ''stede'' (site, place or farm), meaning "healthy farm" or "place of refuge".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.halsteadhistory.org.uk/history.html |title= A brief history of the Essex town of Halstead |first=Adrian |last=Corder-Birch |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref> After the [[Norman Conquest]], in the [[Middle English]] of the 11th century, hald was written and spoken as halt, holt, or holð.<ref>[https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED20990 hōld n.(2) Definition 7]. Middle English Compendium. University of Michigan Library. Accessed 7 August 2023.</ref> Halstead is recorded in the ''[[Domesday Book]]'' of 1086 as ''Haltesteda'' and thrice as ''Halsteda'' in the [[Hundred (county subdivision)|Hundred]] of [[Hinckford_(hundred)|Hinckford]], where it was mainly held by many freemen as [[feu (land tenure)|feu]] in 1066, at the time of [[Edward the Confessor|King Edward]].<ref name=ODhalstead>[https://opendomesday.org/place/TL8130/halstead/ Open Domesday: Halstead, Essex]. Accessed 7 August 2023.</ref> In 1086, Halstead was one of the largest 20% of settlements recorded in Domesday, and had four owners.<ref name=ODhalstead /> Most of the manor of Halstead had been granted by [[William the Conqueror|King William]] to [[William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey|William de Warenne]] as [[tenant-in-chief]] and lord of most of its wealth, and about one-third of the manor of Halstead was possessed by [[Richard_fitz_Gilbert|Richard, son of count Gilbert]] as tenant-in-chief.<ref name=ODhalstead />

In the [[Rebellion of 1088]], William de Warenne took the winning side of [[William Rufus]] and was named [[Earl of Surrey]], while Richard supported [[Robert Curthose]] which led to retirement at a monastery and transfer of his portion of Halstead to his son [[Gilbert fitz Richard]].

There was evidence of a market in Halstead before 1251 when a royal charter was granted for a weekly market and an annual fair. Further grants were made in 1330 and 1467 for the market which was then held in Chipping Hill. St Andrew's Church was in existence by 1276 and the town developed around the Church and nearby market.

In about 1413 Holy Trinity Chapel was erected near the junction of the present Chapel Hill with Trinity Street and Mount Hill. This chapel disappeared by the 18th century and during 1843 it was replaced by [[Holy Trinity Church, Halstead|Holy Trinity Church]], a Gothic Revival building.

==Area==
[[File:ShuffreyDrinking Fountain.jpg|thumb|The Jubilee Drinking Fountain (1888) designed by [[Leonard Shuffrey]]]]
[[File:Antiques centre and restaurant - geograph.org.uk - 1001322.jpg|thumb|Townsford Mill, now the antiques centre]]
The wide High Street is dominated by the 14th-century Church of St Andrew, which was extensively renovated in the Victorian period, but retains much older decoration, including tomb monuments from the 14th century and earlier.

The historic core of Halstead can be viewed on a walk up the market hill. Several buildings on the Market Hill contain structures that date from the 14th century including Whispers wine bar which was an oratory with six priests. It contains a fine wooden hammer-beam ceiling with carved angel newel-post. There is a river walk running through the town from east to west. Just outside the town is Broaks Wood, a popular area for walking owned by the [[Forestry Commission]]. Halstead Public Gardens were established in 1900 and are noted for their floral displays. The town has secured both Silver and Gold Awards in the annual [[Britain in Bloom]] competition on multiple occasions since 2000 and these displays have drawn many tourists to the town. The Antiques Centre inside Townsford Mill sells goods ranging from clothing to household items.

==Mills==
Townsford Mill spans the river at the bottom of the town houses. In 1818, [[Samuel Courtauld (industrialist)|Samuel Courtauld]] built two mills, Townsford at Halstead and another at [[Bocking, Essex|Bocking]]. At the end of 1824, Halstead Mill was sold to Stephen Beuzeville. In 1825, Samuel installed a [[steam engine]] at Bocking Mill. An agreement dated 19 January 1825 was drawn up between Beuzeville and Samuel Courtauld and partners for the conversion of Halstead Mill for silk throwing. 

Beuzeville was to provide the expertise, capital and silk; Courtauld was to erect the [[power loom]]s and operate the mill in return for a share in the profits; Beuzeville was to take delivery of the yarn and manufacture the [[Crêpe (textile)|crêpe]], on which he was a technical expert with 20 years' experience. The mill appears to have been in operation by the summer of 1825, with Joseph Ash as manager.

The introduction of new technology was important, but the mills remained heavily dependent on labour, much of which was provided by Belgian refugees emigrating to avoid religious persecution.. The looms required supervision by an army of young female workers. Even in 1838, more than 92 per cent of the workforce was female.

In 1827 Stephen Beuzeville was declared [[bankrupt]]; a formal deed of sale dated 11 April 1828 was created between the commissioners in bankruptcy and Samuel Courtauld, whereby Halstead Mill (subject to charges of £300) was sold to Courtaulds for a cash payment of £1,500. Stephen and his father joined Courtaulds as employees.<ref>Unlocking Essex [http://unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/uep/custom_pages/monument_detail.asp?content_page_id=89&monument_id=30030&content_parents=48 Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref>

On the death of [[Queen Victoria]] in 1901, much of the black crepe for [[Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria|her funeral]] cortege was made at Townsford Mill by Samuel Courtauld's company. 

Parts of the original Courtauld factory are listed buildings and survived the wholesale demolition of the silk factory in the early 1980s. Principal amongst these is Factory Terrace - Victorian townhouses built for Courtauld's managers which are Grade II* listed.

==Evans Electroselenium Ltd==
Arthur Evans was an industrialist, engineer and businessman who began manufacture of selenium photocells in a small workshop in [[Harlow]], Essex, during the Second World War. These were of use in military applications and he was encouraged by the Government of National Unity to find larger premises and rapidly expand the business. He chose Halstead and found a site adjacent to St Andrews Church on Colchester Road. After the war, Evans Electroselenium Ltd (EEL) expanded into all types of scientific instruments which required photocells, including a flame [[photometer]], [[colorimetry|colorimeters]] and [[atomic absorption]] instruments. Later, [[electrochemistry]] instruments were added. The business was eventually bought by [[Corning Inc]] and went through several mergers and acquisitions. Today it is part of [[Siemens Healthineers]] and operates only from the former Corning-EEL site in [[Sudbury, Suffolk]]. The Halstead site was redeveloped for housing as Evans Court in tribute to the founder. The [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]] in London holds a collection of EEL scientific instruments. Others are held in the Halstead Town Museum collection.

==Amenities==
Halstead has a library in a large open-plan building,<ref>Essex libraries [http://libraries.essex.gov.uk/library-locations-and-opening-times/halstead-library/ Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref> built in 1864–1866 as the corn exchange. It has also housed a technical school. Nearby [[Moyns Park]], a [[Grade I listed]] [[Elizabethan]] [[country house]], is where [[Ian Fleming]] put the finishing touches to his novel ''[[From Russia, with Love (novel)|From Russia, with Love]]'', according to the cover text of some recent editions.

The town history society holds regular monthly meetings.<ref>Halstead & District Local History Society [http://www.halsteadhistory.org.uk/ Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref> There is a town museum attached to the town council offices featuring historical artefacts and objects of local interest. The Colne Valley Postal History Museum is a privately run museum of British postal history with one of the largest collections of post office letter boxes and telephone kiosks and is situated on Head Street. It holds regular open days throughout the year. The redundant Trinity Church , which was designed by Sir [[Giles Gilbert Scott]] is used for occasional concerts and art exhibitions. The Empire Theatre in Butler Road hosts occasional bingo nights. Halstead is home to Hume's Bakery, which opened in 1960 in the shop where it trades today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Humes Bakery – Halstead – Essex {{!}} Essex Gourmet |url=http://www.essexgourmet.co.uk/essex_bakers_patisseries/essex_bakers_patisseries.php?bId=MjEw |website=www.essexgourmet.co.uk |access-date=2015-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150620135130/http://www.essexgourmet.co.uk/essex_bakers_patisseries/essex_bakers_patisseries.php?bId=MjEw |archive-date=20 June 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.humesbakery.co.uk |title=Hume's Bakery - Home |website=www.humesbakery.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929094953/http://humesbakery.co.uk/ |archive-date=2015-09-29}} </ref>

The Jubilee Drinking Fountain was designed by the architect and architectural designer, [[Leonard Shuffrey]]. The stone drinking fountain was presented to the town by [[George Courtauld (politician)|George Courtauld]], and commemorates the [[Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Leonard Shuffrey Jubilee Drinking Fountain, Halstead |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/jubilee-drinking-fountain-303478 |website=ArtUK |publisher=ArtUK |access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
In birth order:
<!-- References are required for information not found on the person's own page -->
*[[Robert Bourchier, 1st Baron Bourchier]] (died 1349), [[Lord Chancellor]] of England, had an estate here.<ref>{{Cite ODNB |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-2992 |title=Bourchier [Bousser], Robert, first Lord Bourchier (died 1349), administrator |last=Rose |first=Richard K. |date=23 September 2004 |language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/2992 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8 |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
*[[John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Bourchier]] (died 1400), soldier and diplomat, inherited the estate here.
*[[Bartholomew Bourchier, 3rd Baron Bourchier]] (died 1409), politician, died at his estate here.
*[[Bernard Barton]] (1784–1849), [[Quaker]] poet, was apprenticed to a shopkeeper and married here.
*[[Dummy, the Witch of Sible Hedingham]] (c. 1788 – 1863), a deaf-mute charged with witchcraft, was beaten by a mob and died in Halstead workhouse.
*[[Samuel Courtauld (industrialist)|Samuel Courtauld]] (1793–1881), opened a [[textile mill]] here in 1818.
*[[George Courtauld (industrialist, born 1802)|George Courtauld]] (1802–1861), textile magnate, was married here in 1829.
*[[Isaac Baker Brown]] (1811–1873), [[gynaecologist]] and [[obstetrician]], went to school here.
*[[Augustine Stow]] (1833–1903), Australian politician, was born here.
*[[Decimus Alfred Ball]] (1836–1890), slum landlord in London, was born here.
*Sir [[John Mark Davies]] (1840–1919), Australian politician, was born here.
*[[Samuel Courtauld (art collector)|Samuel Courtauld]] (1876–1947), art collector and industrialist, became a director of the silk mill here in 1901.
*[[Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies]] (1891–1992), London-born actress, died here.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gwen-Ffrangcon-Davies |title=Dame Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies {{!}} British actress |date=23 January 2019 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref>
*[[Alan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury]] (1902–1998), grandson of the founder of the [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket chain, was a resident and died here.
*[[Steve Lamacq]] (born 1964), [[BBC Radio 6 Music]] DJ, grew up here, attended [[The Ramsey Academy|Ramsey School]], and is a resident.
*[[Matt Cardle]] (born 1983), 2010 winner of [[The X Factor (UK)|''The X Factor'']], is a resident.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/local/halstead/11871005.x-factor-winner-matt-cardle-lends-his-support-to-busking-in-the-town/ |title=X Factor winner Matt Cardle lends his support to busking in the town |date=20 March 2015 |website=Gazette |language=en|access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref>

==Schools==
Halstead's three primary schools are Holy Trinity,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.holytrinityhalstead.com/ |title=Holy Trinity C of E (VC) Primary School – Halstead – Essex – UK}}</ref> St Andrew's and Richard de Clare. Its one secondary school is [[The Ramsey Academy]] (formerly Ramsey Secondary School), located to the north of the town centre. There are several other secondary schools within travelling distance; pupils commonly opt for [[Sible Hedingham]], Braintree or Colchester. [[The Yellow House School|the independent Yellow House School]] at Sible Hedingham is an independent school for pupils with special needs. The two nearest further education colleges are at [[Braintree College|Braintree]] and the [[University of Essex]] at Colchester Campus.

==Places of worship==
The Anglican parish church is [[Andrew the Apostle|St Andrew's]] in Parsonage Street. [[Holy Trinity Church, Halstead]] was declared redundant in April 1987 and is preserved by the [[Churches Conservation Trust]].<ref name=hol>{{Citation |url=http://www.halsteadonline.co.uk/9.htm |title=Holy Trinity Church |access-date=12 March 2011 |publisher=Halstead Online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426221736/http://www.halsteadonline.co.uk/9.htm |archive-date=26 April 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Halstead also has a Methodist church,<ref>[http://www.visithalstead.co.uk/Business-Detail_289-Halstead%20Methodist%20Church Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref> which opened as a [[Primitive Methodism in the United Kingdom|Primitive Methodist]] chapel in 1874.<ref>[http://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page_id__2004.aspx Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref> Halstead [[Baptists|Baptist]] Church is in Hedingham Road<ref>Home page [http://www.halsteadbaptistchurch.co.uk/ Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref> and Grace Baptist Church in Colchester Road,<ref>[http://www.gracebaptisthalstead.org.uk/wp/ Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref> as is the [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|Catholic Church]] of [[St Francis of Assisi]]. The [[United Reformed Church]] of Halstead is in Kings Road.<ref>Halstead churches [http://www.halstead.org.uk/town/churches Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref>

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sudbury transmitting station|Sudbury]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Burnham_on_Crouch|title=Freeview Light on the Burnham on Crouch (Essex, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Essex]] on 103.5 FM, [[Heart East]] on 96.1 FM, [[Greatest Hits Radio East]] (formerly [[Dream 100 FM]]) on 100.2 FM, [[Actual Radio]] an [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] station and formerly, Leisure FM, a community based radio station that broadcast on 107.4 FM which ceased trading in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lfmradio.co.uk//|title=Leisure FM|access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> Large parts of the valley floor are unable to receive the national D1 and D2 multiplex DAB signals due to their geography and the very low power of the Colchester "booster" transmitter (0.005kW) so as not to interfere with Dutch broadcasting.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

The local newspaper is the ''Halstead Gazette'' which publishes on Fridays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/halstead-gazette|title=Halstead Gazette|date=10 May 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=5 November 2023}}</ref>

==Sport==
Halstead's main football club is [[Halstead Town F.C.]] It plays in the 9th tier of the [[English football league system]], in the [[Essex senior league]] Premier Division.<ref name=H>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130227051506/http://www.halsteadtownfc.com/col.asp?cid=38 Club history] Halstead Town FC</ref>

The town is home to Halstead Cricket Club, which fields three teams in the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship. For the 2011 season the club, with the help of club member and former [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]] bowling coach [[Ian Pont]] brought in Bangladeshi international cricketer [[Syed Rasel]]. Other players to have played both first-class cricket and for the club include former Essex and Leicestershire batsman [[Darren Robinson (cricketer)|Darren Robinson]], international coach [[Richard Pybus]] and [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] double World Cup finalist [[Matt Henry (cricketer)|Matt Henry]].<ref>Team site [http://halsteadcc.hitssports.com/default.aspx Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref>

Since 2010 the town has a rugby club, Halstead Templars R.F.C.<ref>Club site [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/halsteadtemplarsrfc Retrieved 3 November 2017.]</ref>

In 1921 the Courtauld Halstead Bowls Club was established at Courtauld Sports Ground. It marked its 100 years of Lawn Bowls in 2021, organising centenary matches with the England team, Essex team, North West Essex Bowling Association and several others. It competes annually in the North West Essex Bowling Association league, Sudbury Triples League, North Essex County Bowls Federation. Players compete in various Essex County competitions. The club has over 100 members and welcomes new ones.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.halsteadbowlsclub.co.uk |title=Courtauld Halstead Bowls Club – Bowling: All the cool kids are doing it.}}</ref>

==Civil parish==
On 31 December 1894 the parish was abolished and split to form "Halstead Rural" and "Halstead Urban".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10240323 |title=Relationships and changes Halstead AP/CP through time |publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]] |accessdate=4 January 2022}}</ref> On 1 April 1974 Halstead Urban parish was renamed "Halstead" and Halstead Rural [[Greenstead Green and Halstead Rural]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/braintree.html |title=Braintree Registration District |publisher=UKBMD |accessdate=4 January 2022}}</ref>

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = [[File:Coat of arms of Halstead Town Council.svg|center|170px]]
|name = Halstead Town Council
|escutcheon = Per chevron Vert and Azure in chief two weaver's shuttles erect Proper and in base a thunderbolt Or.
|crest = On a wreath of the colours in front of a saltire Azure on a mount Vert a garb Proper.
|motto = Consilio Et Prudentia (By Wisdom And Foresight).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |title=East of England |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=10 March 2021}}</ref>
|notes = Originally granted to Halstead Urban District Council on 20 November 1964.}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Halstead, Essex|Halstead}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100203133206/http://www.halsteadonline.co.uk/index2.htm Halstead Then and Now in Old & Current Photography]
*[http://www.halsteadhistory.org.uk/ Halstead and District Local History Society Website]

{{Essex}}

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[[Category:Halstead| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Essex]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Essex]]
[[Category:Braintree District]]