Basildon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Basildon | |
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  |
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| Population | 99,876[1] (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Basildon |
| Shire county | Essex |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BASILDON |
| Dial code | 01268 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Basildon |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Essex | |
Basildon (IPA, /ˈbæzɪldɒn/) is a new town located in south Essex, England at . It was designated as a new town after World War II to accommodate the London population overspill. Basildon was created from several pre-existing towns; Pitsea, Laindon and Vange. The larger Basildon district, formed in 1974 by the Local Government Act of 1972, includes Billericay and Wickford.
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[edit] History
The first historical reference to Basildon is in records from 1086. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'Belesduna'.[2]
The name 'Basildon' means 'Beorhtel's hill' and is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name 'Beorhtel' and the Anglo-Saxon word 'dun', meaning hill. In historical documents, this name had various forms over the centuries, including Berdlesdon, Batlesdon & Belesduna.
The constituency of Basildon is thought to be a barometer of public opinion in General Elections. The results of the constituency have been the same as the overall result of the General Election since 1974.
History and politics came together in 1989 when the newly re-opened Towngate Theatre commissioned a community play from Arnold Wesker for the town's 40th anniversary. He chose to create a potted history of Basildon called "Beorhtel's Hill", which referred either to a Saxon hero Beorhtel or, more likely, to a version of the word "bright". (then see "dun" = "hill", above). It was generally very positive about the place and the way it has always been a haven and a "bright hill" for different generations, and to "strangers in our midst". It was quite gentle, a little sentimental, tremendously heartfet (by the 100 or so members of the community who put it on). But it also said some uncomfortable things about the died-in-the-wool racism of politicians in the 1970s and this inevitably led to some controversy.
[edit] Transport
A significant number of residents commute to London, which is assisted by excellent transport links to the city by rail and by road.
The London, Tilbury & Southend line transects the south of the town. The line is operated by c2c and there are three train stations in the town: Pitsea railway station, Basildon railway station and Laindon railway station. This line connects Basildon to central London via London Fenchurch Street by rail. From Basildon, Fenchurch street can be reached in under 35 minutes, Southend in around 20. Less frequent services provide connections to London Liverpool Street station. Basildon is well situated for good access into Central London.
On the north side of the town, the A127 Southend Arterial Road is next to Basildon and on the south side is the A13. The A13 allows easy access to the M25 and the rest of the motorway network, placing Stansted within 36 miles, Gatwick within 51 and London City Airport just 25 miles. The A127 and the A13 are both important commuter trunk roads to London and the M25 and in addition, link the town to Southend. Locally, the A13 gives easier access to Pitsea and Vange and the A127 gives more convenient access to the town centre and Laindon. Within the town, many main road names have include, 'mayne,' in their name. Broadmayne goes through the town. There is also a Nethermayne to the west and Southmayne to the south.
Buses provide a local form of public transport and also connect Basildon to nearby towns that are difficult to reach by rail, for example Billericay and Chelmsford. First Essex Buses Ltd is the dominant bus operator in the town.
[edit] Shopping
The town centre boasts many High Street chainstores and independent local retailers. As well as shops and coffee houses in East Walk there's the added advantage of Eastgate Shopping Centre which is also situtated in the Town Centre home to over 100 retailers including Debenhams department store. Further outlets can be found at Westgate Shopping park and there is also a pavement market selling fresh fruit and veg along with many other countless items.
[edit] Education
[edit] Secondary schools
There are several secondary schools in the Basildon District:
- Barstable School (federated with Chalvedon School)
- Beauchamps School
- Billericay School
- Bromfords School
- Chalvedon School (federated with Barstable School)
- De La Salle School
- James Hornsby High School
- Mayflower High School
- Woodlands School
Barstable School & Chalvedon School became federated in 2005 to become The Federation Of Barstable & Chalvedon School. This was initiated by the need to stabilise and improve Barstable School's reputation as a good secondary school.
[edit] Twining
Basildon's twin towns include:
[edit] Basildon Bond misconception
The stationary manufacturer does not come from the Essex new town of Basildon but from the Berkshire village of the same name. Therefore there is absolutely no link.
[edit] Festival Leisure Park
Festival Leisure Park is a trading leisure park located in the north of Basildon. It is owned by Norwich Union.[3] The Festival Leisure Park includes several restaurants, a bowling and arcade centre, 2 hotels, a 12-screen cinema, 2 premium health clubs while the green acres of Gloucester Park with its lakes, is just a short stroll away. Festival Leisure Park is affectionately known locally as Bas Vegas.[4]
[edit] Restaurants and leisure facilities[5]
- Aroma
- Lava
- Ignite
- Brewsters
- Pizza Hut
- Chillis
- T.G.I. Friday's
- Frankie & Benny's
- Travelodge
- Holiday Inn
- Hollywood Bowl
- Empire Cinemas
- JumpinJaks
- Nandos
- McDonald's
- Chicago Rock Café
- Macaroni Grill
- Fitness First
- Imperial Chinese restaurant
- Moza Indian restaurant
[edit] Famous people
- Depeche Mode - an influential English electronic music band was formed in 1980 in Basildon.
- Alison Moyet
- Denise van Outen
- Angela Smith - Labour Member of Parliament for Basildon & Thurrock
- Scott Robinson from Five (band)
- QBoy - UK's leading gay rapper
- Carla Brown - Page 3 model
- Paul Smith - ex-footballer with Brentford F.C., Gillingham and Southend United
- Michael Kightly - footballer with Wolverhampton Wanderers, previously with Southend United and Grays Athletic.
- Stuart Bingham - 1996 Amateur Snooker World Champion, currently ranked in the top 20 players in the world
- Darren Caskey - ex-Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Reading F.C. player.
- Joan Sims - Star of the Carry On films
- Georgie Smith - ex-Light-Welterweight boxing champion
- Eammon Martin - Marathon runner
- Terry Marsh - Undefeated Light-Welterweight World Boxing champion
- Rob Denmark - Gold Medallist at 1994 Commonwealth Games in the 5000 metres
- Freddy Eastwood - Striker for Southend United
- Kara Tointon - Actress who plays Dawn Swann in EastEnders and also appeared in the film The Football Factory
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 2001 urban areas headcounts
- ^ National Archive Summary Record for Basildon (HTML). nationalarchives.gov.uk (November 2006). Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- ^ Leisure real estate market makes waves (appeared in Property Week February 1998) (HTML). davidlawson.co.uk (November 2006). Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- ^ Viva Bas Vegas (HTML). Queen Bee: www.jour.city.ac.uk/queenbeemag/ (November 2006). Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
- ^ Morley’s Festival Leisure Park, Basildon Now Fully Let 26 July 2005 (HTML). www.savills.co.uk (November 2006). Retrieved on November 8, 2006.
