BRENTWOOD,
ESSEX
Three
years after his murder in 1170, Thomas Beckett was canonised, an
act which led to the establishment of the town. Pilgrims travelled from
far and wide to Brentwood to seek the miracles that were purported to be
carried out at his tomb and in 1180 the name of Brentwood first appeared
on maps although at that time it was called Burnt Wood.
Brentwood
today has a population of around 73,000, and it has been an important
crossroads for travellers since Roman times. Reference to the area
that the town now occupies can be found in the Doomsday Book. But it is
only since the middle of the 19th Century that people started to settle
in any numbers in this pleasant town, 12 miles from Chelmsford, 14 from
Tilbury and roughly midway between London and Southend at 20 miles from
each.
The
name is derived from the charcoal burners who used to "Brent"
wood, much of which was used in the construction of the great country
homes throughout the district.
St
Thomas's Church (right), was the third church to be built on this site,
and was consecrated in 1883. The church, in the early Gothic style, is
situated in the centre of the town and the spire is a distinct landmark.
