The Halstead Heritage Museum is now open (click for full details)
Published by - 14/5/2021
The town of Halstead is located on the borders of Essex and Suffolk seven miles north of Braintree, eight miles south of Sudbury straddling the river Colne.
Halstead derives its name from the Old English word 'heald' meaning a sloping hillside and 'stede' a place of shelter. Archaeological evidence indicates that Halstead has been occupied since the early Bronze Age. The sites of Iron Age and Roman settlements, including a villa, were discovered in the vicinity of Greenstead Hall, where Saxon pottery was also found.
Latest News
Halstead Heritage Museum OPEN
The Halstead and District Local History Society was formed on Thursday December 16th 1976 at a meeting held in the Scout Hut, New Street, Halstead.
The Society currently has a membership of over 100 and holds meetings on the third Thursday of each month in the Baptist Church, Hedingham Road, Halstead, Essex.
Each year we run a varied programme of local history related meetings spanning the dark ages to more recent times including the influence of the industrial revolution on the area.
Geoffrey R. Copsey F.S.V.A.
1931-2022
Geoffrey Copsey, Vice President and founder member of our society, sadly passed away on 10th June 2022.
Our winter 2021 newsletter was dedicated to Geoffrey celebrating the occasion of his 90th birthday, it contained recollections of his school days, details of his associations with our society and many others in the area and a brief history of his career as an auctioneer and valuer.
As a tribute to Geoffrey, we are making this edition available via our website.
The society has a comprehensive collection of photographs dating back to the 1800s showing scenes from Halstead and the surrounding district. Come along to the Halstead Heritage Museum if you would like to see more.
A Glimpse Back at Halstead
A Tribute to Doreen Potts – Local Historian
by Pam Corder-Birch
This book is written as a tribute to Doreen, a long standing and highly respected member of H&DLHS and contains 136 pages with numerous photographs and illustrations. It covers aspects of the history of the town, the majority of which have not previously been published. New articles and photographs include, shops, transport and horse and cart to charabancs and buses, the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway, old houses and farms of yesteryear and the families who lived in them. Also included are social and sporting events and photographs of Halstead at work and play, as well as tributes to some of the men who fought in the First and Second World Wars.by Pam Corder-Birch
Priced at: £12.95
COPIES OF THIS BOOK ARE AVAILABLE FROM:
Halstead & District Local History Society, The Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, Halstead, Essex, C09 2BY
Published by Halstead and District Local History Society
If you would like to see a collection of articles from past newsletters or download a subscription form, go to our Information page.
If you would like to join the society, our subscription rates are:
- Visitors: £5 per meeting
- Single Member: £16 per annum
- Couple: £26 per annum
- Under 30 years of age: FREE
- Single Member: £16 per annum
- Couple: £26 per annum
- Under 30 years of age: FREE
The Halstead & District Local History Society is open to all. If you’re interested in local history, why not come along to one of our meetings?