Halstead 1017352 217981443 2008-06-08T16:46:04Z FiriBot 6990130 robot Adding: [[ro:Halstead]] {{Otheruses4||the village in [[Kent]]|Halstead, Kent|other uses}} {{unreferenced|date=April 2008}} {{infobox UK place| |country = England |official_name= Halstead |latitude= 51.9451 |longitude= 0.6411 |population = |shire_district= [[Braintree (district)|Braintree]] |shire_county = [[Essex]] |region= East of England |constituency_westminster= [[Saffron Walden (UK Parliament constituency)|Saffron Walden]] |post_town= HALSTEAD |postcode_district=CO9 |postcode_area=CO |dial_code= 01787 47 |os_grid_reference= TL816306 }} '''Halstead''' is a rural [[town]] located in [[Essex]], [[England]], near [[Colchester]] and [[Sudbury, Suffolk|Sudbury]]. The town is situated in the [[River Colne, Essex|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'. [[Image:Halstead High Street.jpg|thumb|left|Halstead High Street]] 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]]''. ==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. The local [[Halstead Town F.C.|Halstead Town Football Club]] are in the [[Eastern Counties Football League Premier Division]]. ==Education== 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. ==External links== * [http://www.halsteadonline.co.uk/ Halstead unofficial website] * [http://www.connecthalstead.co.uk/ Connect Halstead] * [http://www.vvtv.co.uk/ Halstead Webcam] {{Essex}} [[Category:Towns in Essex]] [[ro:Halstead]]