Halstead

 ( Towns In Essex ) 

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, a Gothic Revival building.

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.

Beuzeville was to provide the expertise, capital and silk; Courtauld was to erect the and operate the mill in return for a share in the profits; Beuzeville was to take delivery of the yarn and manufacture the 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.Unlocking Essex Retrieved 3 November 2017.

On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, much of the black crepe for 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.

The town history society holds regular monthly meetings.Halstead & District Local History Society Retrieved 3 November 2017. 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.

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, and commemorates the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

• Robert Bourchier, 1st Baron Bourchier (died 1349), Lord Chancellor of England, had an estate here.
• 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 (1793–1881), opened a textile mill here in 1818.
• 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 (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.
• 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 Ramsey School, and is a resident.
• Matt Cardle (born 1983), 2010 winner of The X Factor, is a resident.

Halstead also has a Methodist church, Retrieved 3 November 2017. which opened as a Primitive Methodist chapel in 1874. Retrieved 3 November 2017. Halstead Baptists Church is in Hedingham RoadHome page Retrieved 3 November 2017. and Grace Baptist Church in Colchester Road, Retrieved 3 November 2017. as is the Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi. The United Reformed Church of Halstead is in Kings Road.Halstead churches Retrieved 3 November 2017.

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 DAB station and formerly, Leisure FM, a community based radio station that broadcast on 107.4 FM which ceased trading in 2023. 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.

The local newspaper is the Halstead Gazette which publishes on Fridays.

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 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, international coach Richard Pybus and New Zealand double World Cup finalist Matt Henry.Team site Retrieved 3 November 2017.

Since 2010 the town has a rugby club, Halstead Templars R.F.C.Club site Retrieved 3 November 2017.

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.

• Halstead Then and Now in Old & Current Photography
• Halstead and District Local History Society Website