Country: England  County: Essex

Basildon: A brief history Basildon was originally designated as a 'New Town' following the New Towns Act of 1946. This was officially confirmed in 1949, and a Government appointed Basildon Development Corporation was formed and given the task of transforming the designated area into a modern town. The pre-existing towns of Laindon, Pitsea and Vange, together with Lee Chapel and parts of Dunton, Langdon Hills and Nevendon were all absorbed into the new development. Up to this point Basildon had been little more than a small village with a population in 1931 of just 1,159. Basildon was created primarily as an 'overspill' town to relieve the overpopulated areas of East London, and also to provide essential services and modern accommodation for a scattered local population, of which many were living in properties below the Housing Act standard. By 1951 the first new tenants moved into newly completed homes in Redgrave Road, Vange. Basildon is no longer referred to as a 'new town' and will celebrate 60 years in 2009.	Photo: Copyright ©2004 Basildon History Online
Rail Services The town is bisected by the direct London (Fenchurch Street) to Shoeburyness rail route with stations at Laindon, Basildon and Pitsea, which is also the junction for Tilbury and Grays. Services are operated by C2C. Bus Services The Basildon district is served by a number of different bus operators. These include First, Crown, Jackson's and Wickford based Nelsons Independent Bus Services (Nibs). Trunk Roads Bordering the town on the northern and southern extremities are the main A127 and A13 trunk roads, which both link to the London orbital M25 motorway. Basildon: Some facts & figures The population statistics for Basildon, which includes Laindon, Langdon Hills, Pitsea and Vange are: 102.400 (Source: 2001 Census). The overall population of the Basildon District which includes Billericay, Bowers Gifford, Crays Hill, Great Burstead, Little Burstead, North Benfleet, Ramsden Bellhouse and Wickford is 165.661 (Source: 2001 Census). The population of Essex at the time of the last Census count on 29th April, 2001 was 1,310,922. Basildon is the largest populated district in the county. Basildon was first mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086 as Berlesduna, but for centuries was little more than a small village before being designated a new town. Its small population was mainly centred around the area of Church Road, close to Holy Cross Church. Variant spellings of Basildon through the years have included: Batlesdon, Basseldon and Bassendon. The name Basildon is of Saxon origin meaning Beorhtel's Hill. It covers an area roughly 7.818 acres. The highest point is at Langdon Hills, notable also as the second highest point in Essex at 384 feet above sea level.
Local Area History If you are interested in local history there is a Basildon History website that covers the following areas: Basildon - Dunton - Laindon - Langdon Hills - Nevendon - Pitsea - Vange Visit the link below or click anywhere on the signpost image. Click Here For Some Local History Basildon Timeline 1855 - Pitsea Railway Station opened. 1953 - 1,000th new home built at Denys Drive, Fryerns. 1957 - Gloucester Park parkland opened. 1958 - First Town Centre shops & Basildon Market opens. 1962 - Brooke House completed. 1962 - Mother & Child Fountain in Town Square unveiled. 1973 - Basildon Hospital opens. 1984 - Wat Tyler Country Park opened. 1989 - The Basildon Centre in St. Martin's Square opened. 1997 - Festival Leisure Park opened. 1999 - Westgate Shopping Park opened.
Shopping Basildon town centre is a large pedestrionized shopping precinct that includes the Eastgate indoor shopping centre - home to Debenhams department store, H.M.V. and a host of other top retail names - and the recently completed Westgate Shopping Park. At Pitsea is Tesco Extra, and there are also a number of retail parks like Pipps Hill and Mayflower. The town also has two markets. Basildon, which operates every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Pitsea, which operates every Wednesday, Friday (second hand only), Saturday and Sunday. Festival Leisure Park Located in the north of the town off Cranes Farm Road is the Festival Leisure Park. Attractions began opening in 1997 and now include a 12 screen cinema, Hollywood Bowl, Jumpin Jaks, Lava, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Fitness First, a Travelodge Hotel and many more. Entertainment The Towngate Theatre located in St. Martin's Square provides a wide range of entertainment that includes theatrical productions and live attractions from popular groups to stand-up comedy. The main auditorium has seating for over 550 and the Mirren Studio seats 150 though both figures can be comfortably exceeded when used in flat floor configuration. Recreation Gloucester Park is the largest park with an area covering around 250 acres. The park is home to the town's main swimming pool and some of its other features include an athletics ground, cricket and football pitches, a bowling green, tennis courts and a fishing lake. Countryside walks can be enjoyed in over 450 acres of Nature Trail beginning at Dunton Hills in the south-west corner, continuing through the woodland of Lincewood to Marks Hill and finally to Willow Park. Langdon Hills Country Park with its views of the Thames and beyond is another popular attraction, as is the Wat Tyler Country Park at Pitsea. Set in 125 acres of unspoilt countryside, the park boasts the National Motorboat Museum, Marina, Art and Craft shops, Tudor houses and a 10.25" miniature narrow gauge railway. Basildon also has an 18 hole municipal golf course. Postcodes: Postcodes covering the Basildon area: SS13, SS14, SS15 and SS16. If you require contact information for some of the local services and amenities available, you might find the Basildon resources webpage useful.
Text written 2005 with revisions 2006-2008. Copyright © 2005-2008, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions Contact
http://www.basildon.com Est. 24/02/2002 2002-2008