Publications
This section contains a comprehensive selection of books covering many history related subjects associated with people and places in and around the Essex town of Halstead.
Many of these fascinating publications have been written by past and present members of the Halstead and District Local History Society.
All of these publications are available to purchase directly from the Halstead Heritage Museum.
 | A Glimpse Back at Halstead by Pam Corder-Birch This book is written as a tribute to Doreen Potts, a long standing and highly respected member of The halstead & District Local History Society. 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. | 136 pages illustrated with many photographs, A4 format. £12.95 |
 | Halstead's Heritage by Doreen Potts This pictorial record of Halstead's past was originally published as a contribution to Essex Heritage Year in 1989. | 101 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A5 format. £4.95 |
 | A Look Back at Halstead by Doreen Potts This excellent book is a must have for anyone interested in the history of Halstead. It records all aspects of the towns history from country crafts to major industries. | 264 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A4 format. £9.95 |
 | People At Work In Halstead by Doreen Potts A fascinating look at the many trades and professions that flourished in the Halstead area during the late 19th and 20th Century. | 128 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A5 format. £5.50 |
 | Discover Halstead by Percy A. L. Bamberger A historic guide to Halstead, Essex including guided walks, maps and pictures. | 44 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A5 format. £4.50 |
 | Origins of Halstead by Essex County Council A brief guide covering the origins of Halstead, Essex produced by Essex County Council in co-operation with Braintree District Council and Halstead Town Council. | 18 pages illustrated with black & white images. £2.00 |
 | Images of England, Halstead and Colne Valley by Dave Osborne This fascinating collection of over 200 photographs covers nearly 100 years of the history of Halstead and the Colne Valley. | 128 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, 235mm x 165mm format. £10.00 |
 | A Centenary History of Halstead Hospital by Adrian Corder-Birch A detailed history of Halstead Hospital written to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1984. | 78 pages illustrated with black & white photographs, A5 format. £1.95 |
 | Halstead & Colne Valley at War by Dave Osborne A meticulously researched, stirring and absorbing history of Halstead and the Colne Valley at War. | 85 pages illustrated with black & white photographs, A5 format. £4.50 |
 | Morton Mathews 1866 to 1953 A Halstead Artist and Teacher by Mary Downey An illustrated account of the life of local artist and teacher Morton Mathews 1866 - 1953. | 106 pages illustrated with black & white photographs, A5 format. £4.95 |
 | Vintage Steam Owners & Operators of the Colne Valley Area by Robin A. Harding The history of steam mechanisation in the Colne Valley punctuated with humerous anecdotes from those whoose livlihoods depended on these fascinating machines. | 104 pages illustrated with black & white photographs, A5 format. £2.75 |
 | Halstead and the Urban District Council 1894 - 1974 by Geoffrey R. Copsey An outline history of the former Halstead Urban District Council recording its achievements, trials and tribulations. | 64 pages illustrated with black & white photographs, A5 format. £2.00 |
 | A Pictorial History of Sible Hedingham by Adrian Corder-Birch A pictorial history of Sible Hedingham capturingg street scenes, principal buildings, people at work and industries prior to 1950. | 154 pages illustrated with black & white photographs, A5 format. £4.75 |
 | A History of Great Yeldham by Adrian Coder-Birch An illustrated history of Great Yeldham including all aspects of village life. | 132 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A4 format. £6.95 |
 | Time Was,Childhood Memories of the Maplestead's by Mary Aldous The author recounts her childhood and experiences of growing up in the North Essex villages of Great and Little Maplestead. | 64 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A5 format. £4.50 |
 | Snapshots, An Essex Village Childhood 1929 - 1945 by Robert Hawksley The authors detailed recollections of his childhood in the North Essex village of Bulmer illustrated with photographs taken by his father. | 90 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A4 format. £6.95 |
 | From Construction to Destruction by Edward P. Willingham An authentic history of the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway illustrated with many fascinating photographs. | 256 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A4 format. £12.50 |
 | Hunt For Machinery by P. J. Burton-Hopkins The rise, success and demise of R. Hunt and Company Limited of Earls Colne, 1825 - 1988. | 156 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A4 format. £6.95 |
 | The History of Law and Order in North Hinkford by Frederick W. Pawsey For over 900 years Castle Hedingham was a focal point for justice within the North Hinkford (North Essex) area. This book documents the history of law & order within this area. | 92 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A4 format. £9.95 |
 | A History of Halstead Town Football Club 1879 - 2016 by Dave Osborne Anyone with an interest in Halstead and its football club cannot fail to be delighted with this carefully researched book. (updated January 2017) | 144 pages illustrated with many black & white photographs, A5 format. £7.00 |
 | Shopping in Halstead a Century Ago by Dave Osborne A hundred years ago Halstead was a very different place to shop. In those days it was possible to purchase 99% of all your requirements from one of the High Street's 100 premises. | 137 pages illustrated with many black & white images, A4 format. £7.00 |
 | Greenstead Green & District History, Volume 1 by Jim Hutchins The marriage of Joseph Linnett to Hannah Bentall resulted in the building of the 'Stone Cottages' in Greenstead Green. This book covers the history of the man who had them built and his wife. | 36 pages illustrated with a selection of maps and drawings, A5 format. £3.00 |
 | Our Ancestors Were Brickmakers and Potters by Adrian Corder-Birch A history of the Corder and related families in the clay working industries by Adrian Corder-Birch, with photographs and illustrations by Christine Walker. A history of the Brickmaking and Pottery industries in Bulmer, Castle and Sible Hedingham, Gestingthorpe, Gosfield, Great Yeldham, Thundersley and other locations in Essex and Yorkshire with a particular emphasis upon the Corder and related families who owned, managed and worked in these brickworks and potteries for nearly two hundred years. This book is available from the author and publisher: Adrian Corder-Birch Rustings, Howe Drive, Halstead. CO9 2QL (email: acb@corderbirch.co.uk) | 170 pages with detailed glossary, bibliography, references and index, including over 150 photographs, maps and documents, many in colour, the majority previously unpublished. A4 format. £14.95 P&P: UK £3.20 Cheques in English Pounds Sterling payable to: 'Adrian Corder-Birch' |
 | Whitlock Brothers - A history of the family, farms, forage works, foundry and factory at Great Yeldham by Adrian Corder-Birch This book is a history of the Whitlock family, farms and industrial interests in Great Yeldham. They initially farmed on an extensive scale and later owned a brickworks, a chaff works and an agricultural engineering works. This was established in 1899 as Whitlock Brothers and gradually expanded to include a foundry and carpentry shops. All types of agricultural machinery, wagons, carts and trailers, together with a variety of wooden buildings were supplied. In 1941 Whitlock Bros. Limited was incorporated and the company gradually diversified into earthmoving machinery. The Whitlock Dinkum Digger was the first ever tractor-mounted hydraulic excavator-loader. The name of ‘Whitlock’ was synonymous with earthmoving equipment and became well known around the World. The book also includes the prominent positions, which the Whitlock family and industries had in the history of Great Yeldham. This book is available from the author and publisher: Adrian Corder-Birch Rustings, Howe Drive, Halstead. CO9 2QL (email: acb@corderbirch.co.uk) | 192 pages illustrated with over 200 colour and black & white photographs. A4 format. £14.95 P&P: UK £3.20 Cheques in English Pounds Sterling payable to 'Adrian Corder-Birch' |
 | The Works - A History of Rippers Joinery Manufacturers of Castle Hedingham by Pam Corder-Birch This book is about Rippers Limited, a joinery company which was started by three brothers in the 1890s that grew into a major employer in north Essex. It includes the hardship of the early days and gives an insight into how the company expanded, the products they made and the buildings where Ripper woodwork was used. A variety of wooden products were manufactured to help the war effort in the Boer, First and Second World Wars. It shows how the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway played an important part in Ripper's development, the industrial buildings within the factory and the housing which they built for their workers. There is a history of the Ripper family and numerous references to the employees who worked for them. The book includes George Evans and Sons Limited later Evans Bellhouse Limited and William Kay (Bolton) Limited, two northern companies which they acquired. This book is available from the author and publisher: Adrian Corder-Birch Rustings, Howe Drive, Halstead. CO9 2QL | A4 format. £14.95 P&P: UK £3.20 Cheques in English Pounds Sterling payable to: 'Adrian Corder-Birch' |
 | Bricks, Buildings and Transport by Adrian Corder-Birch This book is a comprehensive history of:
This book is available from the author and publisher: Adrian Corder-Birch Rustings, Howe Drive, Halstead. CO9 2QL | 192 pages with detailed bibliography, references and index, over 140 photographs, maps and documents. some in colour and many previously unpublished, A4 format. £14.95 P&P: UK £3.20 Cheques in English Pounds Sterling payable to: 'Adrian Corder-Birch' |
 | SLOW BUT SURE: A history of the Portway family and the Tortoise Foundry at Halstead, by Adrian Corder-Birch The book is a history of the Portway family and their industrial interests in Halstead. Charles Portway was an ironmonger with a large shop in the High Street and a warehouse in Chapel Street. In 1877 he patented the Tortoise Stove, which became famous worldwide and in 1882 established the Tortoise Foundry, located adjacent to the Colne Valley and Halstead Railway with its own siding. In 1938 two companies, Charles Portway and Son Limited and The Tortoise Foundry Company Limited were incorporated and continued production until 1975. The book also includes details of successor companies, which operated until 2004. The numerous employees of the shops, the foundry and other businesses are provided together with details of the prominent part, which members of the Portway family have taken, in many Halstead organisations. The book is available from the author and publisher: Adrian Corder-Birch, Rustlings, Howe Drive, Halstead CO9 2QL Email: acb@corderbirch.co.uk | 192 pages, including over 150 illustrations, many in colour, A4 format £14.95 P&P: UK £3.20 Cheques in English pounds sterling please payable to: 'Adrian Corder-Birch'. |
 | Blackwells of Earls Colne by Michael Yelton This book tells the full history of this enterprising operator from the days of the First World War up to the 1965 sale to Hedingham & District. Backed up with ephemera, time and fare tables, a full fleet list, this book is a must! Written by respected author Michael Yelton, who knew the Blackwell family personally in the latter days of the business. Details of how to obtain a copy of this publication can be found on the following website: Essex Bus Enthusiasts Group. | 68 pages profusely illustrated, with colour covers and numerous black/white pictures inside, A4 format. £9.95 |