Braintree & Bocking Public Gardens

Braintree Millennium Film Part 1 (VA 56/2/1)

Originally produced in a VHS-cassette format, this footage was produced to celebrate Braintree's heritage at the start of the new millennium in 2000.

Summary

Footage includes an overview of the town's history and culture, and a snapshot of Braintree in 1999/2000, particularly as experienced through a local family, the Barnes family. Includes some footage of maps, photographs, and documents held at the Essex Record Office, and older cine-film footage of Crittall's and Courtauld's. The video was made by Nick Williamson. This footage is edited due to copyright considerations. A full version can be viewed at the Essex Record Office. Read more about the recording on Essex Archives Online:


[00:00] Opening credits with background organ music; footage of New Year’s Eve in Braintree in 1999; narrated introduction including broad overview of history of Braintree.

[02:15] Local historian David Possee describing origins of Braintree; highlights of history up to 1890 given by David Stubbs, local historian, and David Possee; origins of the name 'Braintree'.

[05:45] Policing and crime in Braintree: local unrest, especially in nineteenth century; development of police force; work of the police force in the present; use of CCTV [closed circuit television] cameras.

[10:50] Local government: early forms of local government; creation of Braintree District Council in 1974; its operation; last Council meeting of 1999; income and expenditure.

[13:10] Award of market charter to Braintree in 1199; footage of Charter Day, 16 June 1999, commemorating 800th anniversary of granting of charter; construction of St Michael’s church from 1199.

[17:25] Development of Christianity; Protestant Reformation; local martyrs including William Piggott; growth of Nonconformists; emigration of Braintree Company with Thomas Hooker to Massachusetts [United States of America] and founding of town called Braintree there; 1689 Toleration Act; first Nonconformist church buildings in Braintree; Braintree Church Rates case.

[21:45] Braintree Catholic Church, built in 1939; Diamond Jubilee church service there on 31 August 1999; confirmation service at St Mary's Bocking on 7 March 1999.

[25:10] Development of trade in Braintree; importance as stage on pilgrimage route; medieval re-enactments in June 1999 including Medieval Combat Tournament on 13 June 1999 at Tabor Triangle Site and medieval wedding held on Charter Day 1999.

[28:25] Further development of town in eighteenth-century as coaching town; growth of industry in nineteenth century starting with Courtauld’s silk mill, built in 1810; impact of First and Second World Wars; memorial service on Remembrance Sunday, 1999, in Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens.

[33:05] Post-War Braintree: failing industries; growth of industrial estates for smaller businesses; development of eastern part of town; Jean Grice, Head of Cultural Services at Braintree District Museum on the textile industry in the town; Benjamin Joscelyne on the history of local estate agents Joscelyne Chase; Jim Townrow on the history of department store Townrow's.

Dedicated to the late Nick Williamson.
Narration and film co-ordinator: Malcolm Bryan
Written and produced by Tony Miller
Director: Jonathan Barker

Used with kind permission of Timeframe Productions.

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The Essex Record Office can preserve your old recordings, or provide talks and training on oral history and sound archives. To find out more about the services we offer, visit our website:

The CL Classics 2018 Classic Car Show in Braintree, Essex

Aerial Photography of the CL Classics 2018 Classic Car Show hosted by Braintree & Bocking Public Gardens on Sunday 2nd September 2018. For details of the 2019 Braintree Classic Car Show please email lisa@clclassics.com

Celebrating Braintree’s 800th Charter Year Clip 2: Carnival and Medieval Fayre (VA 56/1/1)

This video clip of approximately 23 minutes is part of a longer video. The whole 50 minute film can be viewed in the sound archive of the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford.

This is the second of three clips from the film, covering the carnival, medieval fayre, charter day celebrations and the medieval market.

[00:00] Braintree Carnival, 12 June 1999: with narration by secretary of the Carnival Committee, Lynn Green; parade floats, including Carnival Queens and princesses, marching bands; entertainment on the playing fields.

[06:35] Medieval Fayre, 13 June 1999: with narration by Andrea Bennett of Charter Working Group; demonstrations of traditional music, crafts, and sports held on Tabor Triangle Site; Medieval Combat Society demonstration.

[11:30] Charter Day, 16 June 1999: welcome of overseas visitors at Town Hall by Council Chairman Fred [Cart?]; re-enactment of granting of charter by King John I with narration by Iori Williams; crowds at the event.

[19:10] Medieval Market, 16 June 1999: medieval-themed market held in grounds of St Michael's Church, including musical performances and demonstrations of traditional crafts; Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society attempting to make contact with Braintree, Massachusetts, United States of America; traditional dance outside Town Hall.

[23:30] Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, visiting Braintree, 21 June 1999: processing into St Michael's Church before service; reception at Town Hall after service with excerpt from speech by Dr Carey.

[25:45] Bocking Concert Brass in the Public Gardens, 26 July 1999: history of Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens where concert was held; footage of gardens; clips from brass concert.

[27:40] Town Centre Late Night Shopping, 9 December 1999: with carol music; illuminated town centre and decorated shops; entertainment; fireworks display.

Read more about the recording on Essex Archives Online:


Used with kind permission from Brian Joscelyne and Timeframe Productions. The project to produce the film was sponsored by Braintree Carnival Committee and Braintree District Museum.

View our Takedown Policy here:


The Essex Record Office can preserve your old recordings, or provide talks and training on oral history and sound archives. To find out more about the services we offer, visit our website:

Grater Anglia Train departing Braintree

Description

Places to see in ( Halstead - UK )

Places to see in ( Halstead - UK )

Halstead is a town and civil parish in Braintree District of Essex in England. The town lies near Colchester and Sudbury, in the Colne Valley. It originally developed on the hill to the north of the river. The name Halstead is said to derive from the Old English hald (refuge, shelter, healthy) and stede (site, place or farm), meaning healthy farm, safe place or place of refuge.

The 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. The historic core of Halstead can be observed on a walk up the market hill. 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 Commission. Halstead Public Gardens were established in 1900 and is noted for its floral displays. Townsford Mill that spans the river at the bottom of the town houses the Antiques Centre, with thousands of interesting pieces ranging from clothing to household items. In 1818, Samuel Courtauld built two mills, Townsford at Halstead and another at 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 his partners for the conversion of Halstead Mill for silk throwing. Beuzeville was to provide the expertise, capital, and supply the silk; Courtauld was to erect the machinery power looms and operate the mill in return for a share in the profits; Beuzeville was to take delivery of the yarn and manufacture the crêpe for which he was a technical expert of 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 still remained heavily dependent on manpower, or more accurately, woman-power. The looms required supervision by an army of young female workers and even in 1838, more than 92% 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.

Halstead has a library situated in a large open-plan building that was built as the corn exchange (1864-1866) but has also housed a technical school. 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.

A historical society holds regular monthly meetings and a town museum attached to the town council offices features some historical artefacts and various objects limited to local interest. The Empire Theatre in Butler Road hosts occasional bingo nights. Halstead is also home to Hume's Bakery, which opened in 1960, and trades at the same shop today.

( Halstead - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Halstead . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Halstead - UK

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