Silver End

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.846967
longitude= 0.626135
official_name= Silver End
population =
shire_district= Braintree
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Braintree
post_town= Witham
postcode_district = CM8
postcode_area= CM
dial_code= 01376
os_grid_reference= TL8086719795
website= [http://www.silverendparishcouncil.gov.uk/ silverendparishcouncil.gov.uk]

Silver End is a small village in Essex between Braintree and Witham.

Silver End was the brainchild of Mr Francis Henry Crittall or the The Guv'nor as he was known to his workforce. Mr Crittall was an industrialist who had a vision to provide his workforce with houses and amenities in close proximity to his window factory. Thus in 1926 Silver End village was built. In 1928, a large department store was opened with 26 various departments under one roof, unfortunately it burnt down in 1951, and was re-built as the existing Co-op and adjacent shops. The village hall was opened boasting a 1st class dance floor, cinema, library, snooker room and health clinic. It is still recognised as one of the largest village halls in the UK. All major production ceased at the original Crittall site in 2006 when the factory was closed down and production of window frames were transferred to the Midlands.

The majority of the buildings on the original factory site have now been demolished over the summer vacation period of 2008, probably to be used for a new housing development. Although these buildings were in the conservation area of the village, evidently none of them was listed and none was subject to conservation or protected in any way. These industrial buildings, which originally formed part of the intrinsic character of the village, and an integral part of its "raison d'etre", as a village in which to live and also to work, in Crittall's original concept, have thus now been lost, and Silver End has now become entirely a dormitory village. The question arises, that if new houses are built within this part of the conservation area of the village, to what conservation will the new houses be subject? Indeed this seems to make a mockery of the conservation concept?

There is still production of window frames under the Crittall-Hope name (unconnected to the Silver End site) at a factory facility in Witham.

Local facilities

Silver End has a small number of shops for the local residents but the nearest large supermarket is a Morrisons in Witham. Today, Silver End has a library, doctors surgery, chemist, Chinese takeaway, fish & chip shop, betting shop and small Co-op supermarket.There are 3 churches and 2 playing fields and one pub called the Western Arms. There is one primary school and secondary schools are situated in and around Braintree and Witham. The Maltings Acadmey, Rickstones and Alec Hunter are the closest and most popular schools nearest to Silver End.

Transport links

Silver End is on a direct link by road to Braintree and Witham which are within a 10 minute drive. There is a bus service numbered 72 which runs from Braintree - Chelmsford Via Freeport, Silver End, Witham and Boreham Village.

There is also a bus service numbered 72A Braintree - Chelmsford Via Cressing Road, Silver End, Witham, Boreham Village and Witham. The nearest and most accessible train station is Witham railway station, situated on the London Liverpool Street to Norwich main line via Hatfield Peveral, Chelmsford, Romford and Stratford.

External links

* [http://www.rivenhall.org.uk/default.asp?pg=history+of+silver+end+part+1 History of the village]
* [http://www.silverend24.freeserve.co.uk/history/SEhist.htm Historical photos]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/2006/perfect_village_07.shtml The Perfect Village] (BBC's Restoration Village)