Braintree
Braintree maps (2 available)
Map of Essex
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Braintree books (13 available)
- 3 photos on Braintree appear in 3 Frith books - View photos of Braintree
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Braintree and Essex
Braintree memories
Read and share memories of Braintree and Essex inspired by Frith photos
Braintree County High School
I own a picture of the students of BCHS taken in 1947. Such a view has many many names and connections. There is the headmaster Dr. Cordingly [he of the famous stick]. Here is the vicar Hartley Brook's daughter. My old girl friend Shirley, and members of my class including Billy Cranfield, Ron Whittaker, David Woodward, Valerie O'Neill and a crowd of others. There also is "Madame" Elliot who tried in vain to teach me french. I visited the school a couple of years ago to discover to my distress, that it was no more. Perhaps some of those I have named will contact me. I am a physician in Oakland California USA...yes me, the most unruly nuisance of a kid ...read more here
Contributed by Malcolm Stewart-Morris
Essex memories
Braintree County High School
I own a picture of the students of BCHS taken in 1947. Such a view has many many names and connections. There is the headmaster Dr. Cordingly [he of the famous stick]. Here is the vicar Hartley Brook's daughter. My old girl friend Shirley, and members of my class including Billy Cranfield, Ron Whittaker, David Woodward, Valerie O'Neill and a crowd of others. There also is "Madame" Elliot who tried in vain to teach me french. I visited the school a couple of years ago to discover to my distress, that it was no more. Perhaps some of those I have named will contact me. I am a physician in Oakland California USA...yes me, the most unruly nuisance of a kid ...read more here
A memory of Braintree contributed by Malcolm Stewart-Morris
Our wedding
I am originally from St. Helens, Lancashire, and met my husband, Roy, at Burtonwood AFB where I worked. He was stationed at Wethersfield but came on occasion to Burtonwood. When I moved south to be married, I had to live in the neighbourhood for three weeks for the bans to be called out, and my husband's NCOIC was friendly with a lady who lived in the houses directly across from the church. Her name was Ada Stebbing. She took me in for those three weeks and I was married from her house in St. Andrews church. She managed to convince the local retired minister, Harry Jordan, to get permission from the bishop to come out of ...read more here
A memory of Shalford contributed by Anita Watson
Thorogoods in my family tree
This is not a memory as such, however I have been researching my husband's family tree. When speaking to elderly family members I have found that his grandmother's family, the Thorogoods, come from Shalford. I would like to know if there are any Thorogoods still in Shalford. We can't wait to find out more about your village and discover my husband's roots.
A memory of Shalford contributed by Paula Cooke
Extracts From Braintree & Essex books
One of the features of the gardens is the way in which the visitor is met with different views and layouts, from open spaces to densely planted areas, or along wide pathways with narrow winding pathways off to the sides.
An extract from from"Braintree Town and City Memories".
We are looking eastwards along Manor Street. The three-storey building to the left is the Nag’s Head Inn, and buildings with the finial on
top are the Manor Street School. The area with railings and the two low buildings is the site of the new cattle market, which was opened by
George Courtauld on 1 October 1902, in time for the October Fair. It was on this site that the Town Hall was built in the 1920s. The open
space beyond is the Fair Field, which was used for the two annual fairs. During the First World War it was in use as a field kitchen, baking
bread for the troops billeted in the town. Manor Street was developed from 1847 to provide a link road from the centre of town to the new
railway station, which was situated on a new road - Railway Street; the railway line to Witham opened in 1848. In the far distance is Manor
Works, the factory of the Crittall Manufacturing Company.
An extract from from"Braintree Town and City Memories".
The large weather-boarded buildings on the
left are the silk mills of Warner & Sons, who
had taken over the business of Walters & Co
in 1894. Daniel Walters came to the town
in 1822, and these mills were built in 1856.
Behind these is another range of buildings
constructed in 1869. Both firms produced
silk products for the royal family, and Warners
have woven velvet for every coronation since
that of Edward VII.
An extract from from"Braintree Town and City Memories".
The large weather-boarded buildings on the
left are the silk mills of Warner & Sons, who
had taken over the business of Walters & Co
in 1894. Daniel Walters came to the town
in 1822, and these mills were built in 1856.
Behind these is another range of buildings
constructed in 1869. Both firms produced
silk products for the royal family, and Warners
have woven velvet for every coronation since
that of Edward VII.
An extract from from"Braintree Town and City Memories".
Continuing the development of houses along the main Dunmow to Colchester Road, these
fine houses, dating from the turn of the 20th century, were also built for the growing middle
class. They were known locally as ‘The Villas’. Mr Leonard Alden, who ran a tailor and
outfitter’s business, had one of these houses.
An extract from from"Braintree Town and City Memories".