Pitsea

St Michael’s Church, Pitsea Built in a prominent position on the top of a small hill, St Michael’s Church overlooks the peninsula formed by creeks running into the river and the parish of Pitsea, formerly called Piscecia. Over 700 years old, the church was rebuilt in 1871 and was still in use in the early 1970s, but it was later abandoned and fell prey to vandals. The nave and chancel were finally demolished in December 1998. The 15th-century tower was spared and now supports an aerial mast, the funds from which continue to maintain the upkeep of the Grade II listed building. In happier times a farmer would tend his cows on Church Hill, and many local residents were married here - the wedding party had to walk up a steep path to the small church. It was a custom for the newly married couple to be saluted with piercing shrieks from the engines passing through Pitsea station; this was how the train drivers added their congratulations to the others received by the happy couple.
An extract from from"Basildon - A History & Celebration".

The cemetery reportedly has a gravestone dedicated to a lady described as ‘a weak and sinful worm, the vilest of her race’! The victims of the Kynochs tragedy in 1913 (three employees of the explosives factory were killed in an accident) are buried in this now disused churchyard. Visible and Invisible History The inventory of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments survey of the area in 1923 listed eighteen buildings other than the parish churches. Today there are 34 listed buildings in the Basildon area, including the raised pool with Mother and Child Statue and Brooke House in the Town Square; both of these are listed Grade II. It is a pity that many old houses, shops and farms disappeared and were swallowed up in the growth of the New Town. However, we can derive some consolation from the fact that Billericay was connected with the start of the ‘Mayflower’ voyage, and that the main road linking Tilbury Fort to Colchester Fort runs through Laindon. Furthermore, Jack Straw, a priest who led Wat Tyler’s group to invade London, originally came from Fobbing. The people of Langdon Hills and Laindon took part in the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, along with those at the fishing villages of Fobbing, Corringham and Stanford-le- Hope, when during the revolt three local jurors were murdered.
An extract from from"Basildon - A History & Celebration".

The park, on the north side of London Road at the junction with Rectory Road, used to be known as Beckney Mead. The local dignitary and landowner Harold George Howard dedicated it as a public open space in 1947. The park now contains the old war memorial, which used to stand at the top of Station Lane.
An extract from from"Basildon - A History & Celebration".

The park, on the north side of London Road at the junction with Rectory Road, used to be known as Beckney Mead. The local dignitary and landowner Harold George Howard dedicated it as a public open space in 1947. The park now contains the old war memorial, which used to stand at the top of Station Lane.
An extract from from"Basildon - A History & Celebration".

There are plans to include a new pavilion in the Town Square to complement the Toni and Guy and Costa Coffee units, to replace the escalators with stairs and lifts, and to add two new floors to Northgate House for residential use.
An extract from from"Basildon - A History & Celebration".