A Brief Look at Brentwood's History
Brentwood is a town with much history to offer. Although the Roman Road from London to Colchester passed through Brentwood, there is no sign of a settlement at that time. The town originated in a burnt clearing in the forest in the 12th century. It was well placed to take advantage of pilgrim traffic to Canterbury, and the High Street chapel was dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury in 1221.
The medieval town straddled the High Street, with a market near the Western end. It was a good centre for administration, and it was at the local court in 1381 that local men refused to pay the Poll Tax and the Peasants' Revolt began.
Brentwood thrived because of the travellers, merchants and pilgrims who passed through the town. Some settled here, and, fortunately a number of their houses, dating from the 15th-century, survive.
The 18th-century was the great age of coach travel, as witnessed by the numerous coaching inns in the High Street.
The coming of the railway in 1840 encouraged the growth of the town and in Victorian times it served as the shopping centre for the surrounding villages. The building used by the department store of Wilson & Co., established in 1883, is still a landmark in the town.
Brentwood is continuing to grow, though much new development is now either in-filling between existing properties or re-development of Brownfield sites, for example of the land formerly belonging to Warley Hospital.
