Halstead is a rural town located in Essex, England, near Colchester and Sudbury. The town is situated in the Colne Valley, and originally developed on the hill to the north of the river. The name Halstead is derived from the Old English hald (refuge, shelter, healthy) and stede (site, place or farm), meaning 'healthy farm' 'safe place' or 'place of refuge'.

Halstead has been home to several well-known authors, such as J. Daniel Cooper (writer of Tales of Ereth), Sheila Jacobs (writer of various Christian novels, including Watchers) and David Sugden (writer of The Jacob Coburn Mysteries), as well as Darts professional Bobby George and angler Bob Nudd. Its main attractions include a local Antiques Mill, the location of filming for some episodes of the television programme, Lovejoy.

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.

Culture

There are several bars and pubs in the town including: Scenarios in Trinity Street; The Locomotive in Butler Road; The Bull Hotel in Bridge Street; The White Hart and Whispers Wine Bar in the High Street. The Empire Theatre in Butler Road formerly showed films but recently closed; however, it does still host theatrical productions, live music and bingo nights. Halstead enters the annual Anglia in Bloom competition, and Halstead Public Gardens is situated South of the river, containing a range of floral displays, trees and a bandstand. 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. The local Halstead Town Football Club are in the Eastern Counties League First Division.

Education

Halstead is the home to 3 Primary schools: Holy Trinity[87819], St.Andrews and Richard de Clare, there is also a secondary school The Ramsey College to the north of the town centre.

External links

• Halstead unofficial website
• Connect Halstead
• Halstead Webcam