Old Images of Halstead, Essex

Old photo postcard of High Street Halstead Essex 1954

Glimpse history through old images of Halstead, Essex, London.


Halstead in WW1

During the Great War, now known as World War I, a filmmaker recorded the Essex Girl Guides parade through Halstead’s High Street.

Essex Girl Guides – Consecration Of The Colours At Halstead (1914-1918) – British Pathé on YouTube


Mr Baldwin 1935

It’s a shame we don’t see where this meeting was held or the buildings around the large crowd. But it shows the Prime Minister making a speech in Halstead about preserving prosperity and permanent peace.

Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC, PC (Can), JP, FRS (3 August 1867 – 14 December 1947) served as British prime minister on three occasions for Conservative governments:

  • May 1923 to January 1924
  • November 1924 to June 1929
  • June 1935 to May 1937

Mr Baldwin addresses a crowd at Halstead (1935) – British Pathé on YouTube


Halstead in the 1990s

Twenty five minutes of a home movie captures the shops, businesses and homes of Halstead’s streets in the 1990s.

Halstead in the 90’s – Mick Brown on YouTube


A Bit of Halstead History

Extract from:

Leigh’s New Pocket Road-book of England and Wales …,

by Leigh and Co

Published in 1840

Pages 339 – 340

Halstead (Essex), so called from two Saxon words, signifying a healthy place, is situated on a rising ground, with the foot of it washed by the Colne. The Church (St. George) contains several ancient monuments, and there is a good Grammar school.

In a house in this parish, there is a curious Greek inscription brought from Smyrna, where it was erected 150 years before Christ in honor of Crato, a musician.

Population of the parish is 4637.

Inns: George, King’s Arms.

About two miles from Halstead is Gosfield Hall, which belongs to the Duke of Buckingham. It’s an interesting specimen of ancient architecture and contains, among other objects worthy of notice, a gallery called Queen Elizabeth’s, in commemoration of her having twice visited this place. Additionally, there is a curious stone chimney-piece sculptured with a representation of the battle of Bosworth Field and small statues of Henry VII. and his Queen.


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