Braintree Millennium Film Part 1 (VA 56/2/1)
Channel: EssexRecordOffice
Date: 2019-03-01

Originally produced in a VHS-cassette format, this footage was produced to celebrate Braintree's heritage at the start of the new millennium in 2000.

Summary

Footage includes an overview of the town's history and culture, and a snapshot of Braintree in 1999/2000, particularly as experienced through a local family, the Barnes family. Includes some footage of maps, photographs, and documents held at the Essex Record Office, and older cine-film footage of Crittall's and Courtauld's. The video was made by Nick Williamson. This footage is edited due to copyright considerations. A full version can be viewed at the Essex Record Office. Read more about the recording on Essex Archives Online:
https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecordsOffSet=1&id=1069095

[00:00] Opening credits with background organ music; footage of New Year’s Eve in Braintree in 1999; narrated introduction including broad overview of history of Braintree.

[02:15] Local historian David Possee describing origins of Braintree; highlights of history up to 1890 given by David Stubbs, local historian, and David Possee; origins of the name 'Braintree'.

[05:45] Policing and crime in Braintree: local unrest, especially in nineteenth century; development of police force; work of the police force in the present; use of CCTV [closed circuit television] cameras.

[10:50] Local government: early forms of local government; creation of Braintree District Council in 1974; its operation; last Council meeting of 1999; income and expenditure.

[13:10] Award of market charter to Braintree in 1199; footage of Charter Day, 16 June 1999, commemorating 800th anniversary of granting of charter; construction of St Michael’s church from 1199.

[17:25] Development of Christianity; Protestant Reformation; local martyrs including William Piggott; growth of Nonconformists; emigration of Braintree Company with Thomas Hooker to Massachusetts [United States of America] and founding of town called Braintree there; 1689 Toleration Act; first Nonconformist church buildings in Braintree; Braintree Church Rates case.

[21:45] Braintree Catholic Church, built in 1939; Diamond Jubilee church service there on 31 August 1999; confirmation service at St Mary's Bocking on 7 March 1999.

[25:10] Development of trade in Braintree; importance as stage on pilgrimage route; medieval re-enactments in June 1999 including Medieval Combat Tournament on 13 June 1999 at Tabor Triangle Site and medieval wedding held on Charter Day 1999.

[28:25] Further development of town in eighteenth-century as coaching town; growth of industry in nineteenth century starting with Courtauld’s silk mill, built in 1810; impact of First and Second World Wars; memorial service on Remembrance Sunday, 1999, in Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens.

[33:05] Post-War Braintree: failing industries; growth of industrial estates for smaller businesses; development of eastern part of town; Jean Grice, Head of Cultural Services at Braintree District Museum on the textile industry in the town; Benjamin Joscelyne on the history of local estate agents Joscelyne Chase; Jim Townrow on the history of department store Townrow's.

Dedicated to the late Nick Williamson.
Narration and film co-ordinator: Malcolm Bryan
Written and produced by Tony Miller
Director: Jonathan Barker

Used with kind permission of Timeframe Productions.

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