Location

Population 11,000

OS grid reference TL816306

District Braintree

Shire county Essex

Region East

Constituent country England

Sovereign state United Kingdom

Post town HALSTEAD

Postcode district CO9

Dialling code 01787 47

Police Essex

Fire Essex

Ambulance East of England

European Parliament East of England

UK Parliament Saffron Walden

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) and stede (site, place), meaning '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. Ralph Morse (actor) was educated at Halstead Secondary School (now The Ramsey College) from 1966-1971 during which time he played leading roles in numerous productions.

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.

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. The local Halstead Town Football Club are in the Eastern Counties Football League Premier Division.

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